James Harden gets extension from Rockets

-->
-->


Source : Yahoo Sports

James Harden has agreed to a five-year, $80 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Harden, 23, was acquired by the Rockets late Saturday in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Wednesday was the deadline for teams to agree to contract extension with players taken in the first round of 2009 draft.
The Rockets sent Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb and future draft considerations to the Thunder. Along with Harden, the Thunder sent Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward and Daequan Cook to the Rockets.
Houston also sent two 2013 first-round picks (from Dallas and Toronto) to Oklahoma City, as well as a 2013 second-round pick (via Charlotte). The Thunder will receive the Toronto pick this year if it's slotted Nos. 4-14. That pick also is top-three protected in 2014, top-two protected in 2015 and top-one protected in 2016.
The Thunder had offered Harden a four-year, $54 million extension before talks broke down. The Rockets envision Harden as their franchise star and will start him alongside Jeremy Lin in their reconstructed backcourt.
Harden averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season and was named the league's Sixth Man of the Year.