June 9th news , James Harden has clearly put forward two key conditions to the Los Angeles Clippers as a prerequisite for him to stay with the team during the offseason: one is to obtain an ideal contract extension, and the other is to strengthen the team's lineup depth, especially the forward position.

According to the previous contract, Harden signed a two- year short-term contract with the Clippers in 2023 with a total value of $ 70 million, of which the 2025-26 season is a player option with a salary of $ 36.35 million. In other words, Harden has the right to opt out of the contract this summer, become a free agent and seek to re-sign.

According to Law Murray , a reporter from The Athletic , Harden has made his expectations public - seeking a three- year new contract worth about $ 120 million, with an average annual salary of no less than $ 40 million. This is basically consistent with previous reports by ESPN reporter Shams that the Clippers management intends to synchronize Harden's new contract with Kawhi Leonard 's contract to keep the core lineup stable.

However, in addition to the salary renewal requirements, Harden's other condition for staying is equally critical: the team must effectively strengthen the front line. The Clippers exposed the shortcomings of the lineup depth in the 2024-25 playoffs, especially the serious shortage of power forwards. Coach Tyronn Lue even had to let veteran Nicolas Batum play the fourth position in some games .

Harden knows very well that if he wants to win his first championship in his career, it will be difficult to rely solely on the current lineup, so he clearly expressed his hope that the team will introduce an experienced, plug-and-play forward during the offseason to enhance the team's competitiveness in the playoffs.

It is worth mentioning that the Clippers are not only facing the issue of Harden's contract renewal, but also need to strike a balance between salary cap pressure and lineup adjustments. The team already has two high-paid stars, Leonard and George, in the team. If they want to meet Harden's three- year maximum salary requirement and strengthen the front line at the same time, they will have to make choices in other positions or free up space through trades.

Overall, Harden's move is not only a reflection of his self-worth, but also a " touchstone " for the Clippers' management . If the Clippers want to continue to compete for the championship with Harden as the core puzzle, they must give clear responses to these two conditions. The next offseason will undoubtedly determine the future fate of Harden and the Clippers.