James Harden's Cavaliers Return: How Much Can He Make?

James Harden's potential return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is nearing completion, with the team finalizing the deal for Peyton Watson. This move has left the Cavaliers with approximately $28.4 million in financial flexibility, which could determine the starting salary range for Harden in his new contract. Based on salary-cap analyst Yossi Gozlan's calculations, the Cavaliers could potentially offer a starting salary approaching $30 million, but this is likely to be lower than the $42.3 million player option Harden opted out of.

The delay in Harden's signing may have been intentional, as it allowed the Cavaliers to pursue other roster moves, such as the Watson deal and the trade of Dennis Schröder. The first apron, set at $209 million, limits Cleveland's ability to exceed this threshold for Harden's contract. The primary focus now is on finalizing Harden's new deal, with the Cavaliers' financial flexibility being a key factor in determining the contract's terms.