<\/p>\n
One of the NBA\u2019s biggest offseason dominoes has finally fallen, with James Harden securing a monster new deal after an intriguing wait.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a Western Conference giant is reportedly \u201cdead-set\u201d on an audacious pursuit of Nikola Jokic, while a contract standoff involving one of the league\u2019s brightest young big men threatens to drag into training camp.<\/p>\n
All of that and more in the latest edition of NBA Daily.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n HARDEN RETURNS TO CAVS AFTER OFFSEASON WAIT<\/b><\/p>\n James Harden is officially returning to Cleveland after agreeing to a new three-year, $97 million deal with the Cavaliers, according to ESPN\u2019s Shams Charania, bringing an end to an intriguing offseason wait.<\/p>\n Harden had held off on finalising his return to give Cleveland greater financial flexibility as the Cavaliers pursued a blockbuster reunion with LeBron James earlier in the offseason.<\/p>\n While that move ultimately didn\u2019t eventuate, Cleveland has since continued reshaping its roster, landing Peyton Watson before securing Harden\u2019s return.<\/p>\n The 11-time All-Star\u2019s new contract includes a player option and trade kicker, locking in another major piece of Cleveland\u2019s roster as the Cavaliers look to contend again next season.<\/p>\n And the deal will also take Harden into rare financial territory.<\/p>\n His career earnings are now set to reach $511 million, making him just the fourth player in NBA history to surpass the $500 million mark alongside James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry.<\/p>\n Harden turns 37 on August 26 and, once the contract is officially signed, will also become just the second player in league history to sign for more than $90 million in guaranteed salary at age 37 or older.<\/p>\n The other is LeBron James.<\/p>\n LAKERS \u2018DEAD-SET\u2019 ON BLOCKBUSTER JOKIC PURSUIT<\/b><\/p>\n The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly have their sights set on one of the biggest possible moves in the NBA, with Nikola Jokic emerging as a major target once the franchise\u2019s ownership situation is resolved.<\/p>\n According to Lakers insider Anthony F. Irwin, Los Angeles is expected to be \u201cdead-set\u201d on pursuing the Denver Nuggets superstar once the uncertainty surrounding the organisation\u2019s ownership is settled.<\/p>\n Such a move would potentially create a devastating partnership between Jokic and Luka Doncic, with the Lakers increasingly shaping the franchise around their Slovenian superstar.<\/p>\n Doncic and Jokic have developed a close friendship away from the court and have previously spoken about their relationship, while the pair also had the opportunity to play alongside each other during February\u2019s NBA All-Star festivities.<\/p>\n Actually prising Jokic away from Denver would represent an enormous challenge.<\/p>\n The three-time MVP has established himself as the face of the Nuggets and one of the greatest players of his generation, making any potential move to Los Angeles one of the biggest transactions in NBA history.<\/p>\n The latest speculation comes as Jokic continues preparations for the upcoming FIBA World Cup with Serbia.<\/p>\n And the 31-year-old provided another reminder of his extraordinary all-round ability overnight, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Serbia defeated France in the first of two international friendlies between the nations.<\/p>\n DUREN-PISTONS STANDOFF SET TO DRAG ON<\/b><\/p>\n Jalen Duren appears destined to remain in Detroit next season, but the contract stalemate between the restricted free agent and the Pistons is showing no signs of ending anytime soon.<\/p>\n According to ClutchPoints\u2019 Brett Siegel, no team has approached Detroit about a potential Duren sign-and-trade since Summer League, with indications around the league suggesting the 22-year-old will return to the Pistons for the 2026-27 season.<\/p>\n However, actually agreeing on a new contract remains a very different story.<\/p>\n The Pistons and Duren\u2019s representatives are reportedly \u201ccompletely dug in\u201d over the young centre\u2019s value, with the standoff now expected to potentially stretch all the way into training camp.<\/p>\n Detroit has so far been unwilling to offer Duren a maximum contract, while his representatives continue to hold out for one.<\/p>\n Despite the impasse, the lack of outside movement towards a sign-and-trade suggests Duren remains firmly on track to be in Detroit when the new season begins.<\/p>\n BIG NAMES REMAIN AS FREE AGENCY MARKET THINS<\/b><\/p>\n The NBA free agency market continues to thin following James Harden\u2019s return to Cleveland and Peyton Watson\u2019s move to the Cavaliers, but there are still several major names searching for their next home.<\/p>\n And among the biggest are DeMar DeRozan and Jonathan Kuminga.<\/p>\n DeRozan remains one of the most accomplished players available, with the Denver Nuggets emerging as the team showing the strongest interest in the six-time All-Star.<\/p>\n The 37-year-old would add another experienced scoring option to a Nuggets roster looking to maximise its championship window around Nikola Jokic.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Kuminga\u2019s long-running free agency saga also appears to finally be narrowing towards a conclusion.<\/p>\n The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as the final suitors for the athletic forward as he searches for his next destination.<\/p>\n Kuminga has been one of the biggest names left on the market throughout the offseason, with his future remaining unresolved deep into August.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, restricted free agent Jalen Duren remains available amid his contract standoff with Detroit, while Bennedict Mathurin is another notable restricted free agent yet to have his future resolved.<\/p>\n Bruce Brown Jr., Seth Curry, Cam Thomas, Kevin Love, Kelly Olynyk, Mason Plumlee and Gabe Vincent are among the other experienced names still available as teams put the finishing touches on their rosters ahead of training camp.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n