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          NBA Rumor Central

          Rumor Central: Rockets want to extend James Harden's contract beyond 2020

          Houston Rockets guard James Harden is eligible to sign a max extension for the second consecutive summer and it will be offered by the team. Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
          • ESPN.com
          Jun 20, 2017, 04:43 PM

          Last summer, the Houston Rockets upgraded James Harden's contract and they intend to try to do it again, reports the Houston Chronicle.

          Rumor Central

          "That is the plan," a source told the Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen.

          The Rockets are allowed to give another huge bump in pay to Harden as part of the 2017 collective bargaining agreement between the NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association.

          Harden is currently on the books for $28.29 million in 2017-18, $30.42 million in 2018-19 and $32.7 million in 2019-20, which is a player option.

          A new extension for Harden could be worth an estimated $168 million over four years starting with the 2019-20 season.

          Harden put up monster numbers in 2016-17, averaging 29.1 points, 11.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game.

          -- Nick Silva