Cavs’ James Harden listed as fifth-best free agent

James Harden‘s first season with the Cavaliers may have ended on a disappointing note, but that hasn’t changed how he’s viewed around the league.

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus ranked Harden as the fifth-best free agent available this offseason, placing the veteran guard ahead of several notable names and behind only a handful of top-tier targets.

Harden was listed one spot ahead of the Wizards’ Trae Young, and trailed the Lakers’ LeBron James, Pistons’ Jalen Duren, Lakers’ Austin Reaves and Thunder’s Isaiah Hartenstein, respectively.

Harden holds a player option worth $42.3 million for next season, though league observers continue to expect him to decline it and work out a new deal with Cleveland.

“Putting that all together, Harden and the Cavaliers presumably have an understanding that may include the veteran guard opting out to re-sign on a two-year deal starting at around $32.5 million,” Pincus wrote, via Roundtable’s Ashish Mathur.

Harden arrived in Cleveland in a February trade with the Clippers and quickly became a major factor in the Cavs’ run to the Eastern Conference finals, their first appearance that deep in the postseason since 2018.

While they were ultimately swept by the Knicks, Harden made it clear after the season that he hopes to remain with the organization.

“Definitely want to be here,” Harden said. “I think we found something.”

The former MVP averaged 20.5 points and 7.7 assists during the regular season with Cleveland before posting 19.2 points per game in the playoffs.