The Los Angeles Clippers are building a compelling roster that instantly places them among the teams to watch heading into the upcoming NBA season — especially after the acquisition of Bradley Beal, made possible thanks to James Harden.
Once again, Harden proves that winning matters more to him than money. The Clippers’ bold offseason overhaul, which now includes both Beal and veteran center Brook Lopez, wouldn’t have been possible without Harden’s decision to take a pay cut and restructure his contract.
That move may quietly set the stage for the Clippers’ best shot yet at claiming the elusive NBA championship. After declining his player option for the 2025-26 season, Harden re-signed with Los Angeles on a two-year, $81.5 million deal — a number well below his market max. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture.
According to team president Lawrence Frank: “So, without James, we can’t even get Brad, because we wouldn’t have use of the full MLE. So that allowed us to get Brook and Brad because of the way James structured his contract. Two, the way he’s structured his contract in year two gives us flexibility that if we want to have max space, we can choose to do so.”
“He’s been great in that sense. He’s also been great in that he’s very, very proactive. When word was out that Brad may get a buyout and we were allowed to talk to Brad, James was the first one — ‘well, let me call him.’ And willing to do anything. So, all James cares about is winning.”
Harden’s financial sacrifice opened the door for the Clippers to first land Lopez, then go all-in on Beal, who had reached a buyout with the Phoenix Suns after a frustrating stint. Beal agreed to join the Clippers on a two-year, $11 million deal with a player option. League sources say Harden played a crucial role in the recruitment, even holding a private 30-minute conversation with Beal to help close the deal.
This isn’t the first time Harden has taken less money to help build a contender. He made a similar move in Philadelphia, taking a reduced deal to free up cap space for Daryl Morey to bolster the Sixers’ depth. That situation ultimately ended in tension, but the intent was the same: Harden is willing to sacrifice if he believes in the group.
Now 35, Harden is no longer chasing MVPs or scoring titles. He’s coming off a NBA season where he averaged 22.8 points, 8.7 assists, and 5.8 rebounds — and he remains a high-level contributor. But his focus has shifted. It’s about legacy now. And if the Clippers’ gamble pays off, this could finally be the year both Harden and the franchise silence the doubters — together.