James Harden Gun Charge Dismissed After June Arrest
NBA free agent James Harden will no longer face charges following a June arrest in Houston, with the charges dismissed after he completed an "alternative resolution agreement."
The 36-year-old Harden was arrested in June after a traffic stop, where officers noticed he had a handgun in plain view and unholstered. He was held on $100 bond and released later that day.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Harden's most-recent NBA team, released a statement at the time confirming they were aware of the situation but would not comment further. Though Harden is still a free agent, it's believed he will eventually sign a new, multi-year contract to return to the Cavaliers.
Harden averaged 20.5 points in 26 games with Cleveland after a midseason trade from the Los Angeles Clippers. His age hasn't diminished his scoring ability, but the charge was still a concern for the NBA.
The charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon is a misdemeanor in Texas. Because of that, it wasn't certain that he would face punishment from the NBA following his arrest.
With the charge now dropped, it seems less likely the NBA will get involved. That should pave the way for Harden to pick his next team and have an uninterrupted regular season.
Harden's next move is still uncertain, but his situation has improved significantly. He can now focus on his on-court performance without the distraction of a pending charge.
Source: Yahoo Sports