LA-Bron: Lakers deal makes James toast of the coast
CLEVELAND — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.
The four-time NBA MVP announced on Sunday night that he has agreed to a fouryear, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, joining one of the league’s most storied franchises and switching conferences to try to dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.
For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 but now have to be satisfied with just one title in the 11 years they had him.
Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision, making the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.
This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.
His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers with a simple, short release.
It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived TV special to announce his departure from Cleveland backfired and damaged James’ image.
He isn’t planning any more comments and there won’t be a welcoming media conference or celebration in Los Angeles, a source familiar with James’ plans said on Sunday night on condition of anonymity.
James will make his next public comments on July 30 in Akron when he opens a public school started by his family foundation.
It was all different this time. The game’s biggest star will now lead a young Lakers team — run by Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson — that has been overmatched in recent years while rebuilding.
But the Lakers will instantly rise with James, a three-time champion who after being swept by the Warriors in last month’s NBA Finals said he is still driven and very much in “championship mode”.
The Lakers’ rich legacy is something that appealed to James and it wasn’t long after his announcement that he heard from Kobe Bryant, who won five titles during 20 seasons with Los Angeles.
“Welcome to the family @KingJames,” Bryant said on Twitter. “#lakers4life #striveforgreatness.”
James and Bryant were Olympic teammates and there has been a perceived rivalry between the pair of alpha males.
They’re now linked like never before, and if James wants to prepare for his eventual life after basketball, he can learn much from Johnson, who has made a fortune as an entrepreneur, and Bryant, an Academy Award winner.
The massive Los Angeles market will also provide James with a grander platform for his philanthropy and social activism. He already owns two homes in Southern California and has a film production company.
This is the third time in eight years James has changed teams. After bolting from Cleveland in 2010, he returned in an emotional homecoming four years later, determined to make the Cavs champions.
The 33-year-old had previously said he wanted to finish his career in Ohio, and although he’s leaving again, Cavs fans are more forgiving after he ended the city’s 52-year sports championship drought in 2016.
Shortly after the announcement, which came in a surprising manner, James posted a three-photo tribute to Cleveland fans on his Instagram account.
“Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible four seasons,” James wrote. “This will always be home.”
But there will always be a portion of Cleveland fans disappointed that James left again and that he wouldn’t give the Cavs a longer commitment. His deal with the Lakers is his longest since he signed for six years with Miami in 2010.
James informed the Cavs on Friday that he was not exercising his $35.6 million option, thus becoming a free agent.
While in Los Angeles following a family vacation, he spoke to Cavs general manager Koby Altman moments after free agency opened on Sunday, and it appears that was more a courtesy than a chance for Cleveland to make one last pitch.
James gave Cleveland something to remember in his final season.
He played in all 82 regularseason games and then somehow carried a team that underwent several transformations to a fourth straight conference title and another matchup against the Warriors.
As has been the case in the past, James didn’t have enough help as the Cavs were swept, dropping him to 3-6 in NBA Finals — a record sometimes used to compare him to Michael Jordan.