LeBron James leaves Cavaliers again, agrees to four-year contract with Lakers

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July 1, 2018 - 11:00 PM

National Basketball Association: Free Agency

LeBron James decided that the unfinished business that brought him home in 2014 was satisfied by the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship.

Despite his pledge at InfoCision Stadium four years ago that he was “not going anywhere ever again … I don’t have the energy” for free agency, James chose the Los Angeles Lakers as his next destination, leaving the Cavs for the second time.

His agency, Klutch Sports, made the announcement on Twitter Sunday night. A brief press release said the four-time league MVP had agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers.

It was much less splashy than “The Decision” in 2010, a nationally televised show in which James said he was taking his talents to South Beach and prompted an angry backlash that took years to subside. When the former St. Vincent-St. Mary star returned home in 2014, he revealed the stunning news in a Sports Illustrated essay written with Lee Jenkins and posted on the internet.

ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported there will be no further comment, press conference or welcome party for James in LA, according to a source familiar with his plans. His first public appearance will be at the opening of his I Promise School in Akron on July 30, McMenamin said.

James left a message on his Instagram story for Cavs fans, which was emblazoned over a black and white photograph of himself in the motorcade during the 2016 championship parade, mobbed on all sides.

“Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible 4 seasons. This will always be home,” James wrote. It was followed by a “See You Soon” with the logo of the LeBron James Family Foundation, then a photo of his I Promise School with the hashtag #IPromise.

In his second stint with the Cavs, James led them to four consecutive NBA Finals and one title, giving him three in his 15-year career.

James’ agent Rich Paul met with the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday in L.A., although James did not attend, with a league source confirming a report by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Denver Nuggets also tried to get into the biggest sweepstakes in free agency shortly after it opened, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports.

But judging from the speed of Decision 3.0, James had his mind made up when he landed in L.A. Saturday after a family vacation in the Caribbean.

James owns two mansions in Brentwood and his wife, Savannah, wanted to live in L.A., according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Their sons LeBron Jr., 13, and Bryce, 11, can benefit from the high level of basketball competition in Southern California. James’ SpringHill Entertainment company, run in partnership with Maverick Carter, also has its headquarters there.

James and Paul spoke to Cavs general manager Koby Altman shortly after the free agency period opened at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, a league source confirmed. The Cavs could have offered James a max contract of five years and $206.79 million, according to ESPN figures, or he could have signed another one-year deal with an option.

Although he can’t officially sign until Friday, this marks James’ longest contract since 2010, when he received a six-year, $110 million contract with the Miami Heat that included an early termination option after four seasons. According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, the fourth year of James’ contract with the Lakers is a player option.

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