&quot "Clippers officially announced! Harden renewed his contract with the Clippers for 81.5 million in 2 years, and the second year, he guaranteed only 13.3 million in 42 million in 2 years.&

On July 7, the Clippers officially announced that they had completed a contract renewal with Harden, and Shams revealed that this was a two-year contract of $81.5 million.

reporter Michael Scotto revealed that multiple sources said that Harden's starting salary in the 2025-26 season is $39.2 million.

Scotto said Harden has the player option for the 26-27 season (about 42 million), of which only $13.3 million is guaranteed.

Vivi brief comment:

The Clippers and Harden have a two-year contract renewal of 81.5 million yuan, and only 13.3 million of the total amount of 42 million is guaranteed. This "non-full guarantee" tail not only gives Harden the flexibility to choose in the future, but also allows the Clippers to retain operating space in the summer of 2026.

Insiders of the alliance generally believe that this contract reflects the realistic considerations of both parties. For Harden, it is rare to be able to lock in an annual salary of nearly 40 million at this stage of his career. After all, point guards of the same age, such as Paul, have already begun to accept middle-class contracts. For the Clippers, with Leonard just signing 150 million in three years and George urgently needed to hold the ball after leaving, it was a safe move to retain the core of the organization with a short offer. It is particularly worth noting that this contract and Leonard's contract expired in 2027, invisibly retaining the synchronization of future reconstruction for the team.

However, some scouts privately stated that the guaranteed amount in the contract is designed like a double-edged sword. If Harden maintains good condition, he will likely jump out of the contract to seek longer protection; if there is a decline, the Clippers only need to pay part of the protection funds to free up their salary space. This "both advance and retreat" clause also reflects the management's prediction of the volatility of the status of older stars to some extent. The Clippers' locker room is now circulating that Harden is full of expectations for the new season. He mentioned in private many times that "to bring something special to Los Angeles" and that this contract may become his last chance to prove himself.