Rockets sign Harden to super-max
The face of the Houston Rockets’ franchise has 228 million reasons to smile. The Rockets share the feeling.
With James Harden the center of all Rockets’ hopes and plans, they made sure Saturday that will not change any time in the foreseeable future, signing him to the richest contract extension in NBA history.
As expected for weeks, the Rockets signed Harden, 27, the full designated player veteran extension, an agreement that tacks four seasons on to the two remaining from his extension last summer in a contract worth $228 million over six seasons.
Depending on future salary-cap figures, Harden could be paid close to $47 million in the final season of his contract, 2022-23. The $42.5 million per season he will earn when the extension kicks in will surpass the five-year, $201 million extension Golden State’s Stephen Curry signed last week.
“Since he arrived in Houston, James has exhibited the incredible work ethic, desire to win, and passion to be the best that has made him one of the most unique and talented superstars in the history of the game,” Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement. “Additionally, the commitment he has shown to our organization, the city of Houston, and Rockets fans all over the world makes him a perfect leader in our pursuit of another championship. I’m very happy for James, his mother Monja, and their family on this exciting day.”
The Rockets had made signing Harden to a contract extension for a second consecutive season a key to their planned recruiting pitches to free agents.
Before they had that chance, the Rockets traded for Chris Paul when, after talks with Harden, Paul told the Clippers he would sign with the Rockets as a free agent. That did not change the team’s plans with the player Alexander had said “was by far the Most Valuable Player.”
Harden, who had been involved in the Rockets’ freeagent planning and efforts, from his conversations with Paul to his pitch to P.J. Tucker, never hesitated to accept the latest offer, according to a person familiar with the talks, with only logistics and scheduling determining when he would sign.
“Houston is home for me,” Harden said in a statement. “Mr. Alexander has shown he is fully committed to winning and my teammates and I are going to keep putting in the work to get better and compete for the title.”
The deal will keep Harden with the Rockets through the 2022-23 season when he is 33 years old. It could also influence the Rockets’ next move.
With the Knicks securing freeagent forward Tim Hardaway Jr. with a four-year, $71 million offer sheet the Hawks on Saturday declined to match, ESPN reported the Knicks have no plans to play Hardaway and forward Carmelo Anthony together and could intensify talks with the Rockets about sending Anthony to Houston.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni would welcome a reunion with Anthony, a person with knowledge of his thinking said, and Anthony, 33, would waive his no-trade clause to play for the Rockets and with Paul, a longtime friend.
With the Rockets over the salary cap, they likely would have to move the contract of forward Ryan Anderson in a deal for Anthony, but the Knicks are expected to be hesitant to make him the centerpiece of a deal, with three years to go on his contract and with Anderson playing the same position as their most important player, Kristaps Porzingis.
That could require the Rockets to involve a third team, but because they value Anderson’s range shooting, they are unlikely to add much to a package, even for Anthony.
But Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has indicated that the lure of playing with Harden is important well beyond this season’s moves, saying his goal is to “get more USA Basketball team members” and that Harden has been the key to many moves made so far.
Harden was second in the MVP voting last season, getting career highs in points (29.1), rebounds (8.1) and assists (11.2) for a third consecutive season. He was the NBA’s only unanimous first-team All-NBA selection.
The 56.2 points the Rockets averaged per game off Harden’s scoring and assists were the second most in NBA history. He joined Oscar Robertson as the only NBA players to average at least 29 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds in a season and became the only player in NBA history to get at least 2,000 points, 900 assists and 600 rebounds in the same season.
(Houston Chronicle/TNS)