Josh Hart #11 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against Nic Claxton #33 of the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Barclays Center on March 18, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 128-123. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP
The Portland Trail Blazers have fully guaranteed Josh Hart’s $12.96 million salary for the 2022-23 season, The Oregonian reported Saturday.
The team was facing a Saturday deadline per Hart’s contract, according to spotrac.com.
Hart, a swingman, is entering the second season of a three-year, $37.9 million deal he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in August of 2021.
There is a mutual option for $12.96 million in 2023-24 as part of the contract.
The Trail Blazers acquired Hart from the Pelicans in February as part of the deal in which CJ McCollum was sent to New Orleans.
Hart played in just 13 games (all starts) for the Trail Blazers due to injuries but averaged 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. The 27-year-old averaged 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in 41 games (40 starts) for the Pelicans prior to the trade.
Overall, Hart has career averages of 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 296 games (118 starts) in five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19), Pelicans (2019-22) and Trail Blazers.