James Harden signs four-year, $118M extension with Rockets
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James Harden has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Houston Rockets, the team announced Saturday.
Harden, 26, will make $118 million through 2020, with a player option for the final season of the deal, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. His salary for next season will spike to $26.5 million under the new salary cap and increase incrementally over the course of the deal.
“I’m happy to be here for four more years,” Harden told reporters. “This is home for me.”
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Harden averaged 29 points, 7.5 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Rockets last season and has emerged as one of the league’s top scorers and most statistically productive players. After being acquired in a trade with the Thunder in 2012, Harden has made four consecutive All-Star teams.
After a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2015, the Rockets went a disappointing 41–41 last season, falling in the first round of the playoffs. With Dwight Howard gone to Atlanta and Mike D’Antoni in as head coach, the team is expected to showcase an offensive-minded style of play.
The Rockets have added veteran depth this off-season, acquiring forward Ryan Anderson, guard Eric Gordon and center Nene in free agency.
