Cavaliers have not yet re-signed Harden! After missing out on LeBron, they have a new goal: prioritize completing other acquisitions.

On July 28th Beijing time, James Harden has not yet completed an official contract extension with the Cavaliers, but this does not imply any surprising turn of events.

Renowned reporter Shams stated on his show that he is quite certain Harden will soon return to Cleveland. Harden opted out of his $42.3 million player option on June 29th, and at that time the two sides had reached an agreement to negotiate a new multi-year contract. This goal remains unchanged.

However, delaying the signing also brings benefits for the Cavaliers. Postponing Harden's new contract allows the team to retain some operational flexibility, making it easier to continue seeking upgrades in free agency and the trade market.

With LeBron James choosing to join the 76ers, the Cavaliers' team-building direction has finally become clear. Sources say the team's management is still actively looking for ways to upgrade the roster.

There are rumors that the Cavaliers are interested in Kuminga, DeRozan, and others. HoopsWire has learned that the Cavaliers' list also includes several big-name targets not yet widely discussed. According to renowned reporter Stein, the contract extension between Harden and the Cavaliers is expected to still be no more than two guaranteed years. However, because the Cavaliers continue to focus on Kuminga and are determined to stay below the second luxury tax apron for a second consecutive season, the specific salary figure is still being adjusted dynamically.

The Cavaliers' intention is very clear: even though they have already signed Hezonja, sources familiar with the team's internal thinking insist that the team's interest in Kuminga has not diminished.

The final contract structure for Harden will also serve the team's subsequent operations. The two sides have discussed spreading the total salary across multiple seasons to lower the annual amount, giving the Cavaliers more salary cap flexibility under the luxury tax thresholds.

In February, the Cavaliers traded Darius Garland plus a second-round pick to the Clippers to acquire Harden. In 26 games wearing a Cavaliers uniform, Harden averaged 20.5 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds.

Therefore, there is no need to view Harden's delayed signing as a sign of stalled negotiations; this waiting actually helps the Cavaliers prioritize completing other signings.