Harden pens $228m extension

The Houston Rockets inked James Harden to a contract extension worth a reported $228 million on Saturday.

The Houston Chronicle reported the exact value of the deal, which will keep Harden under contract for six years, will depend on future leaguewide salary cap figures.

Harden had two years, worth $59 million, left on his previous contract.

He benefitted from a provision in the new collective bargaining agreement covering extensions for superstars. He was eligible for the Designated Player Veteran Extension, which for him was worth an additional $169 million over four seasons.

For the second time in three seasons, Harden was second in NBA Most Valuable Player voting, with the award going to Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Harden led the NBA in assists, averaging 11.2 per game. He was second in scoring, averaging 29.1 points. He had career bests in points, assists and rebounds (8.1) for a third straight campaign. 76ers nab Fultz Markelle Fultz, the number one selection in last month’s NBA draft, signed a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, the team said Saturday.

The 76ers also confirmed the signings of free-agent guard J.J. Redick and forward Amir Johnson.

Financial terms of Fultz’s deal were not disclosed by the team, which pulled off a blockbuster trade with the Boston Celtics prior to the draft to allow Philadelphia to move up two spots to own the top pick for the second straight year. The guard averaged team highs of 23.2 points and 5.9 assists to go along with 5.7 rebounds during his one season with the Huskies.