NBA: James Harden To Re-Sign With Los Angeles Clippers

While the Los Angeles Clippers wait for a decision from one of their star players, another will be returning. (More Sports News)

Multiple outlets reported Sunday that the Clippers and James Harden agreed to a t🀅wo-year, $70 million contract just prior to the start of the NBA's free agency period.

The 𝔍second yeaꩲr of the deal will be a player option, according to Yahoo Sports.

Harden returns for his first full season in Los Ange♔les after being acquired by the Clippers from the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 1. Playing alongside the also-accomplished duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the 10-time All-Star averaged 16.6 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 38.1 per cent from 3-point range over 72 regular-season games.

The 2017-18 NBA MVP helped the Clippers to a 51-31 record and the fourth seed in the Western Conference play-offs, though Los Angeles was ousted in six g𒈔ames by the eventual NBA Finals participant Dallas Mavericks in the fir🐟st round.

Harden's re-signing brings some stability to what could be an uncertain offseason for the Clippers, as ESPN reported Saturday that George has declined his $48.7 million player option for next season to test free ag⛄ency.

George is planning to meet with the 76ers and Orlando Magic in addition tꦛo the Clippers in the co♕ming days, according to ESPN.

Harden is coming off a turbulent offseason of his own following a very public falling out with the 76ers and general manager Daryl Morey last summer, which prompted the 34-year-old to request a trade. After sitting out the early part of last season, Harden eventually had his request granted when Morey dealt the 🔴disgruntled point guard to the Clippers, his🏅 preferred destination, in a seven-player trade.

Though the three-time NBA scoring champion posted his lowest points-per-game output since 2010-11 last season, he averaged 21.2 points per game during the Dallas play-off series and the Clippers went 46-26 🎶with h🦩im on the court during the regular season.