NBA free agency is off to the races and James Harden has opted to return to the Los Angeles Clippers on a two-year, $70m USD deal. The news comes fresh off the heels of fellow teammate, small forward Paul George, who decided to opt out of his current contract and test the transfer market. The latter development galvanized the Clips to bolster as much of their existing star power as possible, having also brought back point guard Russell Westbrook.
Harden, an LA native, had come off a three team stint over the past few years, publicly falling out with his past squad, the Philadelphia 76ers, in a now famous beef with the team’s president of basketball operations, Daryl Morey. While Harden’s start with the Clippers wasn’t stellar to begin with, he was instrumental in helping the club rebound into the playoffs, but ultimately to a first round exit.
“We think James has been terrific for us when we obtained him five games into the season,” said Lawrence Frank, the Clippers president of basketball operations, in a statement. “Thought he had a terrific season. … He’s been great in terms of even the offseason, coming in, working out, coming in two-a-days, getting extra work in.”
For Clipper fans especially, it comes as a sigh of relief, as Harden was one of the many targets linked with hometown rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers, who are looking to add another star as LeBron James restructures his contract.
