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Clippers officially re-sign star G James Harden

Wed Jul 10 1:23pm ET
Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Clippers re-signed 10-time All-Star James Harden on Wednesday.

Terms of the deal were not announced but multiple outlets reported early last week it's a two-year deal worth $70 million, with a player option in Year 2 of the deal.

Harden, 34, averaged 16.6 points, 8.5 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 72 games last season in his first campaign with the Clippers.

"James was everything we hoped he would be when we acquired him from Philadelphia last season: a proven scorer, gifted passer and natural facilitator who protects the ball and makes the game easier for others," president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said in a statement. "James cares about his craft and works tirelessly at it. We were better for his presence last year and we will be again."


The Clippers acquired Harden from the Philadelphia 76ers shortly after the start of last season in a three-team trade that also included the Oklahoma City Thunder. Harden had sought a trade after having a financial dispute and subsequent fallout with 76ers president of basketball ops Daryl Morey.

Harden was the 2017-18 NBA MVP and a three-time scoring champion during his eight-plus seasons with the Houston Rockets. He averaged a career-best 36.1 points in 2018-19.

Harden has career averages of 24.1 points, 7.1 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 1,072 games over 15 NBA seasons.

Player Notes
Nikola Jokic Sun Jul 28 12:50pm

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic scored a team-high 20 points in Serbia's loss to Team USA on Sunday. He added eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. The multi-time MVP was smothered by the United States for the entire contest, forcing him to commit four turnovers and shoot 1-for-6 from behind the arc. Still, Jokic helped his team keep things competitive at times throughout the contest, although it wasn't enough. After the Nuggets captured an NBA championship in 2022-23, Jokic and company couldn't go back-to-back. However, he did all he could, averaging 26.4 points, 9.0 assists, and a career-high 12.4 rebounds. Managers already plan on making him a top fantasy pick for the 2024-25 campaign, especially since he is a favorite to claim his fourth Most Valuable Player award. Serbia will look to get on track versus Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant Sun Jul 28 12:30pm

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (calf) scored a game-high 23 points in Team USA's win over Serbia. Earlier in the week, it was reported Durant was expected to miss this one. However, he was cleared for action after practicing the last few days. The 35-year-old is still productive despite his age. In 75 games with the Suns last season, Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 blocks while shooting 41.3% from behind the arc. If Durant stays healthy, which has been an issue throughout his career, he has a top-10 fantasy upside for the 2024-25 campaign. Team USA will look to remain unbeaten against South Sudan on Wednesday.

Tyus Jones Sun Jul 28 12:20pm

According to Arizona Sports' John Gambadoro, Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones is expected to start this season. After spending last season in Washington, he agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with Phoenix. In 60 games with the Wizards, the 26-year-old averaged a career-high 12.0 points and 7.3 assists, adding 1.1 steals. With Jones anticipated to roll with the first five, Grayson Allen will presumably return to the bench. From a statistical standpoint, Allen is also coming off the best year of his career, logging 13.5 points and shooting 46.1% from behind the arc. Fortunately for Allen's fantasy managers, the Suns' bench isn't deep, meaning he could remain involved. However, with Bradley Beal having issues staying healthy, Allen should still get chances to start during the 2024-25 campaign.

Tyus Jones Sat Jul 27 9:20pm

Free-agent guard Tyus Jones agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Suns. The 28-year-old averaged a career-high 12.0 points and 7.3 assists in 60 games with the Wizards last season. He was arguably the top free agent available, and his arrival in Phoenix gives the Suns a reliable point guard capable of coming off the bench or providing quality minutes with the starting lineup. With that said, his pairing with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Jusuf Nurkic likely means a reduction in shot opportunities. However, Jones is skilled enough in other areas to remain a reliable fantasy option for managers, considering he's logged 1.0 steals per game throughout his career.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sat Jul 27 4:50pm

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 21 points in Saturday's win over Greece. RJ Barrett had a team-high 23 points. However, as expected, SGH was still productive, going 5-for-10 from the field, adding seven assists, four boards, two blocks, and one steal. He is coming off a potent 2023-24 campaign, averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 2.0 steals. The 26-year-old also logged 75 games, his most since his rookie season. With that in mind, Gilgeous-Alexander should stay ready to produce for the remainder of the 2024 Summer Olympics. As a result, his fantasy value should continue to improve, heading toward what many predict will be an MVP season.

RJ Barrett Sat Jul 27 4:40pm

Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett scored a team-high 23 points in Canada's Olympic victory over Greece. He added four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 21 points. However, it was Barrett who led Canada to a victory. The 24-year-old spent his entire career with the Knicks before getting traded to Toronto ahead of the deadline in the deal involving Immanuel Quickley and OG Anunoby. He played well in 32 games for the Raptors, logging a career-high 21.8 points and 6.4 rebounds. Without question, Barrett's fantasy value continues to improve, and his ceiling will rise even higher if he continues to play as well as he did on Saturday. Canada will look to stay unbeaten versus Australia on Tuesday.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Sat Jul 27 4:30pm

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a game-high 34 points on Saturday. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough, as Greece dropped its first game of the 2024 Summer Olympics to Canada. The multi-time MVP was efficient in this one, going 11-for-17 from the field while surprisingly sinking 12 of his 15 tries from the charity stripe, adding five boards and two assists. Antetokounmpo missed most of the postseason due to a calf injury, so fantasy managers were happy to see him back on the floor. But Canada, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray, was too much for Antetokounmpo and company. Greece will look to get on track against Spain on Tuesday.

Victor Wembanyama Sat Jul 27 4:20pm

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama led France to a win over Brazil on Saturday. The 20-year-old finished with 19 points, tying Nicolas Batum for the game-high, going 7-for-13 from the field and 1-for-4 from deep. He added nine boards, four steals, and three blocks. Undoubtedly, Wembanyama plays at a level well beyond his years. He finished his inaugural NBA season by posting averages of 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 1.2 steals to take home the Rookie of the Year award. Fantasy managers are already hoping to land Wembanyama early in fantasy drafts for the 2024-25 campaign. However, if he continues to play well during the Olympics, his fantasy value will increase even more. France will look to stay hot against Japan on Tuesday.

Josh Giddey Sat Jul 27 11:20am

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey had a quality showing in Australia's win over Spain on Saturday. Giddey had five turnovers in this one. However, he made up for it by just missing out on a triple-double, amassing 17 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. The 21-year-old had a down season in 2023-24, averaging a career-low 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. He also logged only 25.2 minutes per contest. Fortunately, Giddey's move to Chicago will likely mean more minutes. With DeMar DeRozan now in Sacramento and the potential trades of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, Giddey has a chance to become the No. 1 scoring option for the Bulls during the 2024-25 campaign. Australia will look for another win on Tuesday against Canada.

Santi Aldama Sat Jul 27 11:00am

Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Santi Aldama had a potent outing in Saturday's Olympic meeting with Australia. While Aldama's team couldn't come back for the win, he can't take any of the blame, finishing with a game-high 27 points while shooting 6-for-8 from deep, adding six rebounds and two steals. The 23-year-old averaged a career-high 10.7 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 2023-24. Unfortunately, he wasn't a consistent member of the rotation. The Grizzlies selected Zach Eddy in the 2024 NBA Draft, meaning Aldama may once again have trouble finding minutes this season. However, if Eddy, Jaren Jackson Jr., or Brandon Clarke miss time due to injury, Aldama will gain streaming potential for fantasy managers, even if he comes off the bench.

Daniel Theis Sat Jul 27 10:50am

New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis helped lead Germany to an Olympic win over Japan. Franz Wagner scored a game-high 22 points. However, Theis was just as instrumental in his team's success, amassing 18 points and going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field (2-for-2 from deep), adding seven rebounds and one steal. The 32-year-old has bounced around the league since entering it in 2017, most recently averaging 6.3 points in 59 games with the Los Angeles Clippers. With that in mind, Theis could be in line for his best season yet, considering he is expected to split time in the middle with 2024 No. 21 overall pick Yves Missi this season. Germany will look to remain undefeated versus Brazil on Tuesday.

Franz Wagner Sat Jul 27 10:40am

Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner led Germany to a win over Japan in Saturday's Olympic matchup. He had issues finding the bottom of the net, going 9-for-17 from the field and 2-for-8 from deep. However, Wagner still finished with a game-high 22 points, adding six rebounds, one assist, and one block. The 22-year-old is coming off a potent 2023-24 campaign, averaging a career-high 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals. As a result, he was rewarded with a five-year maximum contract extension in early July. With a win in the books, Germany will continue the quest for a gold medal against Brazil on Tuesday.

Jordan Clarkson Fri Jul 26 8:20pm

According to Andy Larsen of the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson isn't drawing trade interest from other teams around the National Basketball Association. The 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year was a coveted player by contending clubs over the last few seasons. However, after a decline in statistical contributions during the 2023-24 campaign, teams no longer have him on the radar. Clarkson has two years remaining on his current deal. But with many teams in the NBA strapped for cash, he may end up staying in Utah. Unfortunately, his path for playing time could be compromised with Collin Sexton, Keyonte George, and 2024 No. 29 overall pick Isaiah Collier on the roster.

David Roddy Fri Jul 26 7:50pm

The Phoenix Suns traded forward David Roddy to Atlanta in exchange for forward EJ Liddell. The 23-year-old began his career in Memphis but was traded to Phoenix ahead of last season's deadline. He played sparingly in Phoenix, averaging only 1.3 points in 17 games. With that in mind, Roddy likely won't see much action with the Hawks. However, he could be worth adding to fantasy rosters if Atlanta needs to put him on the floor during the 2024-25 campaign.

Trey Jemison Fri Jul 26 7:30pm

The Pelicans claimed center Trey Jemison off waivers. He was recently waived by the Grizzlies after spending time with the team last season. In 23 games in Memphis, Jemison averaged 7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. While the 24-year-old will likely spend time in the G League, the Pelicans may require his services at some point during the 2024-25 campaign, so the streaming potential is there for fantasy managers.

David Duke Jr. Fri Jul 26 3:20pm

The San Antonio Spurs have signed guard David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract. The young guard signed a two-way deal with the organization last December. However, Duke only ended up playing in four games with the Spurs. Before that, Duke spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets. This is looking more like a depth move than anything else. The assumption is that Duke will spend a majority of his time in the G-League.

Kessler Edwards Fri Jul 26 3:20pm

The Dallas Mavericks have signed forward Kessler Edwards to a two-way contract for the upcoming season. Edwards didn't make much of an impact on the court last season. He averaged 5.1 minutes per game across 54 appearances with the Sacramento Kings. Edwards started his career with the Brooklyn Nets but has played each of the last two seasons in Sacramento. He's a decent depth option but will likely spend most of his time in the G-League with the Mavs.

Russell Westbrook Fri Jul 26 3:10pm

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Russell Westbrook to a two-year deal. The veteran guard will receive $6.8 million over the next two seasons. Westbrook officially joins the Nuggets after being waived by the Utah Jazz following a trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. This was expected to happen after Utah waived the star guard. The assumption is that Westbrook is going to see significant minutes off the bench in Denver. He should immediately upgrade this bench that struggled to produce last season.

Brook Lopez Fri Jul 26 11:50am

According to Milwaukee Bucks general manager Jon Horst, the team doesn't plan on trading center Brook Lopez. "Brook is so core to who we are," said Horst during an interview. "Of course, he has value around the league. That's a credit to him. But we've not engaged in any real conversations about trading Brook. I hope Brook retires as a Milwaukee Buck." The 36-year-old has been with the Bucks since the 2018-19 campaign. Since then, he's appeared in at least 68 games in all but one season. While Lopez's production has decreased over the years, he remains a double-double threat and one of the most durable big men in the National Basketball Association, giving him value for fantasy managers heading into the 2024-25 season. His abilities from deep and as a shot-blocker also give him a higher ceiling for category participants.

Draymond Green Thu Jul 25 8:10pm

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has been instrumental to the team's success over the years. It's known his career is nearing an end. Yet, he added some clarity recently, stating during an interview he's "probably got two more" seasons left before he hangs it up. The 34-year-old has spent his entire career with the Warriors since entering the National Basketball Association, averaging 8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks. He's also a four-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, and the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year. Without question, Green has a Hall of Fame resume. While he should have more than a few quality showings for fantasy managers on the horizon, his days of consistent production are likely over, even with Klay Thompson now in Dallas.