Extension for Harden to serve dual purpose
Not only is guard tied to franchise, but he could entice free agents to sign
With an eye on potential roster moves this summer and well beyond, the Rockets “plan” to take a step that will allow them to tell potential free agents that star guard James Harden will not be going anywhere.
For the second consecutive season, the Rockets intend to offer Harden, 27, a contract extension long before he could hit free agency, a person with knowledge of the team’s plans said Tuesday. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the team’s intentions have not been made public.
The Rockets “plan to extend James Harden at the first opportunity,” the individual said. “That is the plan.”
Harden was the lone unanimous All-NBA first-team player, making him eligible for the new Designated Player Veteran Exception that would be worth 35 percent of the salary cap, roughly as much as $168 million over
four years, depending on the value of the salary cap to be announced. That is in addition to the $58.7 million he is due to make in the next two seasons.
Harden, a 6-5 guard, signed an extension last summer, keeping him under contract at least through the 2018-19 season. He has a player option for the following season.
An extension agreement with Harden would assure a free agent the Rockets’ top player would be signed for the duration of that player’s contract.
The Rockets do not have the cap room for a top free agent, but they could make moves to open cap space if needed. The Los Angeles Times reported Chris Paul, 32, will visit the Rockets as a free agent next month. Signing Paul, a 6-0 guard, would move Harden back to his shooting guard spot, an easy adjustment that would balance the offense but would require additional cap-clearing moves.
The Rockets also could seek a trade for Indiana star Paul George, 27, who has told the Pacers he intends to leave, likely to join the Lakers, as a free agent after next season.
The Rockets are among the teams willing to gamble they could sign George, a 6-9 forward, if they acquire him going into his final season under contract, according to a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking.
But the Rockets do not have a pick in the first round of Thursday’s draft to offer in a deal.
The Rockets will seek to lock up Harden even without the implications on subsequent moves.
Harden is one of three finalists — along with San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook — for the Most Valuable Player award to be announced Monday in New York.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said last month he considered Harden the most deserving of the award.
“He was the best point guard in the league,” Alexander said. “He was by far the Most Valuable Player.”
Harden led the NBA in assists, averaging 11.2 per game. He was second in scoring, averaging 29.1 points. He had career bests in points, assists and rebounds (8.1) for a third consecutive season.
The 56.2 points the Rockets averaged per game off Harden’s scoring and assists were the second most in NBA history. He became the only player in NBA history to get at least 2,000 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in the same season. He joined Oscar Robertson as the only players to average at least 29 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.