Cavaliers Post 6 Tweets to Welcome Harden Back! Harden Trains with Watson, Details of 3-Year $97 Million Contract Revealed

The Cavaliers' official account posted six consecutive tweets welcoming Harden back.

One after another, they posted posters, statistics, honors and highlight collections, as if wanting to share everything possible. Cleveland, a small city, gave a 37-year-old veteran the highest level of treatment.

This is something that has rarely been seen during Harden's career in recent years.

In 2022, when he was 33, the Philadelphia 76ers only offered him a two-year, $68.6 million contract. In 2024 and 2025, the Clippers gave him short-term 1+1 structures for two consecutive years, with annual salaries of $70 million and $81.5 million respectively, but never made any long-term commitment. The Clippers needed Harden's immediate production, but never truly planned to keep him long term.

The Cavaliers offered a 37-year-old veteran a three-year, $97 million fully guaranteed deal, with a player option in the third year and an additional 15% trade bonus.

The annual salary structure of the contract is as follows: $30.8 million in the 2026-27 season, $32.3 million in the 2027-28 season, and $34 million in the 2028-29 season. It increases every year.

It should be noted that Harden was traded from the Clippers to the Cavaliers on February 4, 2026. At the time, the Cavaliers sent Garland and a second-round pick to acquire the 36-year-old Harden. Many viewed the trade as a gamble. Harden had only half a season left on his contract, his age was a factor, and nobody knew how long he could maintain his form.

But Harden answered all doubts with his performance.

After joining the Cavaliers, he played 26 regular-season games, averaging 33.8 minutes, 20.5 points, 7.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds. In games he played, the Cavaliers went 19-7, with a winning percentage of 73.1%.

In the playoffs, Harden started all 18 games he played, averaging 37.3 minutes and recording 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.72 steals.

The Cavaliers reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018, marking the ninth conference finals appearance in franchise history.

Harden also extended his streak of consecutive seasons reaching the playoffs to 17. In NBA history, only five players, including him, have reached the playoffs for 17 straight years: Karl Malone, Stockton, Kidd, Parker and Harden himself.

This record is enough to explain the significance.

After the offseason began, Harden made a decision that surprised many people. He originally had a $42.3 million player option for the 2026-27 season. But he opted out, giving up one season of guaranteed $42.3 million salary. His new contract starts at only $30.8 million, meaning he took a direct pay cut of more than $11 million.

Why?

The Cavaliers needed flexibility. They wanted to strengthen their wing position, and Harden's pay cut gave the team more room for salary moves. Harden exchanged real money for roster improvement flexibility and secured his own future for three years.

Even more surprisingly, he personally helped recruit players for the Cavaliers.

In this year's free agency, the Cavaliers targeted Nuggets restricted free agent Payton Watson. The Nuggets offered Watson four years and $70 million without increasing the offer. To acquire him, the Cavaliers needed a sign-and-trade. Throughout the process, Harden stayed in contact with Watson, introducing him to the Cavaliers' system and team plans.

Ultimately, Watson joined the Cavaliers through a multi-team sign-and-trade deal on a four-year, $88 million contract.

After the signing was completed, Watson posted a photo on social media of himself training with Harden, with both wearing Cavaliers jerseys.

The contract is settled, and training has already begun. Harden is not only the team's lead guard, but also taking on the role of recruiter.

The Cavaliers officially announced on September 9 that they had completed a contract extension with Harden. President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced the news, and the team's official account then posted six updates welcoming Harden back.

From the Clippers' 1+1 short-term deals to the Cavaliers' three-year fully guaranteed contract, from Philadelphia's discounted two-year, $68 million contract to Cleveland's increasing long-term deal, Harden's treatment late in his career has visibly changed.

In the 2026-27 season, Harden will begin his 18th NBA season. His career earnings will surpass $511 million, making him the fourth player in NBA history to earn more than $500 million over his career. He will also become the second player in NBA history aged 37 or older to sign a guaranteed contract worth more than $90 million, after LeBron James.

The Cavaliers' starting lineup for the new season is basically set: Harden, Mitchell, Watson, Mobley and Allen. This lineup strengthens the wing position based on last season while keeping the core group that reached the Eastern Conference Finals.

The respect Harden has received from the Cavaliers is not only reflected in the contract value.

The team welcomed him with six tweets, secured his future with a three-year fully guaranteed deal, and allowed him to help recruit teammates he wanted. Harden never received this kind of treatment with the Clippers or Philadelphia. Cleveland gave him what a 37-year-old veteran needs most: trust and a sense of belonging.

A veteran who voluntarily gave up $42.3 million and accepted a pay cut of more than $11 million, a key player who personally called to help recruit for the team, and a franchise that responded with six tweets and a three-year contract. Something that had not existed in recent years is forming between the Cavaliers and Harden.

This may be the best destination for Harden in the twilight of his career.

Controversial question: Harden gave up his $42.3 million player option and signed a three-year, $97 million deal. After calculating the numbers, did he lose money or come out ahead? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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