Harden in Brooklyn:
- Harden was expected to re-sign with the Nets after the 2021 season.
- Nets would've given him his max in 2022 to keep the Durant-Harden duo together
Harden in Philadelphia:
- Took a massive pay cut on a cheap 1-year deal (plus player option) so the Sixers can add P.J. Tucker
- After the season, no team wants Harden at the max. He is forced to opt into the 2nd season of his cheap contract, which was never part of the plan.
- Next season Harden will re-enter free agency at Age 35.
- Realistic contract for a 35-yr old Harden will have a starting salary of $33M next season.
| Season | Rejected Nets Contract | Actual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | $47.4M | $33.0M |
| 2023-24 | $51.0M | $35.6M |
| 2024-25 | $54.9M | $33.0M (projected) |
| 2025-26 | $58.8M | $35.6M (projected) |
| 2026-27 | $63.3M | $38.2M (projected) |
| 5-year total: | $275.4M | $175.4M |
I think I'm being overly kind to Harden here, projecting he'll get a $33M salary as a 35-yr old free agent next season. That extrapolates to $148M on a 4-year contract, which I think is way too optimistic. He has been declining for several years, and teams are going to be wary of how he'll perform in his late 30s.
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