As August arrives and the NBA off-season has crept into view, the major free-agent moves have largely been finalized.
James Harden’s precise NBA future remains officially unresolved, though he did receive notable updates concerning a pending legal matter in Houston, Texas.
Harden had been arrested on June 13 and faced charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm, according to TMZ.
The gun-related case appears to have been resolved for the 11-time NBA All-Star, as the Harris County District Attorney elected to dismiss the charges on Thursday.
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Court documents were filed and signed by a judge after prosecutors stated that Harden completed an “alternative resolution agreement,” though the specifics of what that agreement entailed were not disclosed, TMZ reported.
Harden’s arrest originated from a traffic stop. During the stop, police alleged that the shooting guard had a gun in plain view, and the weapon was not housed in a holster.
Naturally, Harden has deep ties to Houston after playing for the Houston Rockets from 2012-2021. He blossomed into a true superstar with the franchise, which included capturing the 2018 NBA MVP Award.
Harden finished the previous season with the Cleveland Cavaliers after he was traded there midseason from the Los Angeles Clippers. The Cavaliers are widely anticipated to re-sign the veteran free agent to a new deal, though negotiations were reportedly delayed while Cleveland pursued a reunion with fellow free agent LeBron James.
The Cavaliers needed the potential extra cap space in order to entice James, who recently announced he was joining the Philadelphia 76ers, a team Harden played parts of two seasons with from 2022-2023.
Harden has never publicly commented on his offseason arrest, but he now has a clear slate to focus on the upcoming NBA season.
The next NBA contract Harden signs will further elevate his on-court salary earnings, which have already surpassed $411 million over 17 seasons in his career.
