Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 20
Harden Took Lower 3-Year Salary to Help Cavaliers Land Peyton Watson
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 20

Harden Took Lower 3-Year Salary to Help Cavaliers Land Peyton Watson

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 20

Summary

  • $42.3 million was the player option James Harden declined in June before working with Cleveland on two- and three-year contract structures.
  • A lower annual salary on a three-year deal helped the Cavaliers get under the NBA's first and second aprons and preserved enough flexibility late in the offseason to trade for Peyton Watson.
  • Harden also pushed the move directly, staying in active contact with Watson during his restricted free agency and playing a key recruiting role in bringing him to Cleveland.

Insights

Will James Harden's massive pay cut be the secret weapon that finally pushes the Cavaliers to an NBA championship?
After a complex five-team trade, will Peyton Watson prove he is the missing piece to Cleveland's ultimate puzzle?