Refuse 101 million in 2 years! Pursue 150 million in 4 years! Harden sees the reality clearly, and you can't have both fish and bear's paws

NBA players want to sign big contracts, such as James can sign a maximum salary at any time, such as Thompson wants to beg the Warriors to give him 48 million for 2 years, and the same is true for Harden, who has lost 33 million, and now he is trying to get a big contract for himself, he will face a choice this summer, keep the Clippers to compete for the championship, and go to the Magic to make a lot of money.

Harden rejected a two-year, $101 million payment

In the summer of 2020, the Rockets offered Harden a two-year, $101 million contract, but Harden wanted to go to the Nets to play with Durant, and he turned down the Rockets' contract.

At the time, the league players were surprised by Harden's move, and McCollum said oh my God! That's a lot of money.

But in Harden's opinion, as long as he can play with his good brother and have fun together, he doesn't care about money, at that time Harden was still the top player in the league, and he believed that he could get a super max salary contract if he went to the Nets.

But everything did not go as Harden wanted, Harden did not get the honor he deserved in the Nets, and the Nets were also troubled by Irving, and finally Harden applied for a trade to the 76ers.

In the summer of 22, Harden made another surprising decision, he jumped out of the player option of 47.4 million in the last year and signed a 2-year contract of 68 million with the 76ers, Harden's large salary concession is to let the 76ers control the salary under the hard salary cap, so that the 76ers can sign Tucker in 3 years and 33 million in the full middle class, which can help the 76ers improve their strength and win the championship.

The agreement between Harden and the 76ers in 22 was that Harden would let the salary sign a short contract, and then compensate Harden and him for signing a 5-year 250 million maximum salary in the 23-year 76ers, but in the summer of 23, the 76ers changed their minds, and at that time Harden's market was not good, he could only choose to exercise the player option, but Harden applied for a trade from the team. So on 10/31/23, Harden was traded by the 76ers to the Clippers, where he restarted.

Harden pursues $150 million over four years

Harden played very well with the Clippers, he did not miss a single game of the team, and he could score 17.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 6th in the league, 42.2% three-point shooting, 18th in the league and a career high, and 2.8 three-pointers per game, 20th in the league.

Harden ranks second in the league in offensive efficiency of 122.7 and 17th in the league in net efficiency of 9.7, and has a 16-2 record of assists in 18 games with the Clippers.

Harden has also changed his style of play, the former ball-handling core is now only 20% of the use rate of the league's 94th, Harden is not sticky to the ball now, nor is he a four-person person with the ball, Harden will quickly distribute the ball to his teammates, as long as the opponent blocks him, he will pass the ball to his teammates.

Harden's performance was also praised by his teammates, with George saying that Harden is a master of pick-and-roll and shooting, and that good things will happen to the ball in his hands.

But Harden can no longer return to the state of winning the regular season MVP, at that time Harden regarded the scoring as a mustard, and now Harden has no offensive ability, in the past, Harden averaged 10+ free throws per game and ranked first in the league, and now Harden averages 4.3 free throws per game and only ranks 43rd in the league.

When the foul free throws that Harden has made a name for himself have dropped dramatically, he will never get a max contract again, Harden is 34 years old and his athleticism is declining, and many teams are reluctant to invest in a veteran.

Harden's wishful thinking is to sign a 4-year 150 million contract in the Clippers, and the Clippers are unwilling to give up Harden if they want to maintain the stability of the lineup, but the Clippers have Leonard and George, two top-paid players, and the annual salary of more than 35 million to Harden is a bit big, maybe the Clippers hope that Harden can renew his contract with the team for 4 years and 120 million. No matter how much money Harden renews his contract, he will no longer be able to get a maximum salary contract, and no player is willing to give Harden a maximum salary.

Harden sees reality clearly, and you can't have it both ways

Because of Harden's indiscipline and various bad habits, Harden was ignored last summer, and this year Harden has changed his mind and worked hard, and he has also reversed his reputation, and many teams will become Harden's chasers.

The Magic have performed well this season, and the team's three-high lineup has begun to take shape, but the Magic lacks a point guard who can give the three-high interior legend, and the Magic urgently need a good guard after Fultz's contract expires this year.

Among the Magic players, Wagner and Banchero are both rookie contracts, and the Magic have a lot of salary space in the last two years, and they don't mind giving Harden a big contract.

If Harden joins the Magic, he can get more balls, he can direct the team's offense like he did with the Rockets, and Harden is good at playing pick-and-roll with big men, so Banchero and Wagner will get more offensive opportunities.

If Harden breaks off the idea of winning the championship, joining the Magic is a good choice, the Magic can give Harden a high salary of 150 million for 4 years, and now I am afraid that Harden wants the championship and wants to get a high salary, so he may not get both. Maybe Harden to the Magic will be better than in the Clippers, in the Magic he can lead newcomers to grow, the Magic is a small team and he is not under much pressure, the Magic will have a lot of room to rise in the future, and Harden will also play a key role.

This summer is Harden's last chance to sign a big contract, and the 34-year-old Harden is not the top player in the league, and he has to have a clear place for himself. Staying in the Clippers to get less money can only be a three-in-command, and going to the Magic to earn more money has more right to speak. Harden wants to see the reality clearly, and he can't have it both ways, and believes that Harden will make his own choice. Fans, what do you think about this?