UPDATE: Yahoo! reports that Harden recently turned down a four-year, $52 million offer. The Thunder and Harden are still negotiating an extension.
by Ryne Nelson / @slaman10
The Thunder are putting the collective bargaining agreement to the test by trying to fit James Harden’s contract under the cap.
A max contract is waiting for Harden from another team, but according to ESPN, the Thunder are demanding that the Bearded One accept an extension worth less than the max:
For the record, tho, plenty of pessimism still circulating about Harden & OKC striking deal by WED cause OKC insisting on deal less than max
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) October 27, 2012
Hoopsworld reported that the two sides have devised a heavily incentivized deal that could get Harden max money if the Thunder continue to dominate the West.
Harden spent media day saying that he expects to sign a long-term deal with OKC—another sign pointing toward a deal being met by Wednesday’s deadline.