James Harden waiting to re-sign to give Cavaliers flexibility, possibly for LeBron James: Sources

The Cleveland Cavaliers might be able to pay LeBron James more than the minimum, and James Harden could be the key to making it happen.

On Monday, Harden declined his $42.3 million player’s option and is now a free agent. He is expected to return to Cleveland on a new contract, but Harden is waiting to sign to give the Cavs the flexibility they need to make a move like adding LeBron for next season, according to a league source who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe ongoing deliberations.

One of the main factors commonly cited for James not returning to Cleveland is the small salary available for him there due to the league’s salary rules. The Cavs’ roster appeared to be too expensive for them to pay him anything other than the minimum, which is roughly $4 million, and the rules appeared too punitive for them to shed salary to pay him more while remaining competitive.

But if Harden were to accept a salary of $30 million for next season, the Cavs would be right at the NBA’s projected first apron of $209 million in salary. They would need to dip roughly $16 million below that to access the non-taxpayer midlevel exception to the salary cap. If Cleveland can trim that much money, it can offer LeBron that contract — starting at a projected $15 million salary — for next season.

To that end, the Cavs are trying to trade forward Max Strus, league sources told The Athletic, so that they could sign LeBron — or perhaps another player — into that midlevel exception. Strus is slated to make $16.6 million next season. If Harden signs for $30 million, and if Cleveland can deal Strus and take back no salary in return, it would be able to give James the midlevel exception.

Will that be enough? James is a billionaire and makes more money off the court than he does on it. But after earning $52 million last season, and given his status as the league’s all-time leading scorer and arguably the greatest to ever play, it might feel a little better to him to have an extra zero on his next contract.

And it appears that is at least possible in Cleveland.