James Harden reportedly plans to extend his stay with the Los Angeles Clippers as he intends to sign a new two-year $70 million with the team in free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

From the moment the Clippers acquired the 10-time All-Star, the obvious assumption was that the partnership would carry on beyond the 2023-24 season. He had clearly wanted the move to Los Angeles, and his trade was the team's last realistic route to getting a third star alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Once Leonard penned an extension and left some money on the table in the process, the signs pointed even more to Harden committing his future to the Clippers when the moment came.

After the way in which the 34-year-old's tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers unraveled, however, nothing could be taken for granted. There's also the not-so-small matter of his performance continuing to trend in the wrong direction and the implications that would potentially have on contract negotiations.

During the regular season, Harden averaged 17.0 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 39.1 percent from three-point range.

One could argue his relatively low production was an encouraging sign because it symbolized his willingness to accept a lesser role behind Leonard and George. According to Basketball Reference, his 20.6 percent usage rate was his lowest since his Oklahoma City Thunder days, when he was utilized as a sixth man rather than a regular starter.

The playoffs were going to be the true measuring stick for both Harden and whether the Clippers, with championship aspirations, could forge ahead with their star trio as currently constructed.

A first-round exit to the Dallas Mavericks didn't ultimately reveal all that much so much as it confirmed what plenty of fans already believed. Leonard only suited up for two games, and his knee injury doomed the team's chances, mirroring what has happened multiple times for L.A. in the past.Harden, for his part, put up 21.2 points n 44.9 percent shooting along with 4.5 rebounds and 8.0 assists against Dallas.

Even more so than with the Sixers did when they acquired him, the Clippers placed themselves between a rock and a hard place when they traded for Harden. On a number of levels, they were pot-committed barring a total collapse in the postseason.

Majority governor Steve Ballmer doesn't want Los Angeles to be treading water — or worse, rebuilding — as it moves into Intuit Dome. In addition, there was simply no path to signing an outside All-Star this summer, and the same can be said for making a blockbuster trade when the front office has such a limited number of valuable picks and players it can put on the table.

There's no question re-signing Harden carries significant risks. Too often he has experienced a bitter divorce from a team for it to be chalked up to a coincidence. When things get bad with Harden, they can get very bad, very fast.

The Clippers were left with few other alternatives, though.