What’s next for new free agent LeBron James?
Much bigger choice awaits new free agent
CLEVELAND — LeBron James made the first move. Now what?
Cleveland? Los Angeles? Philadelphia? A surprise?
Stay tuned. The Decision III is this summer’s NBA blockbuster, and it’s coming soon.
James told the Cleveland Cavaliers he will not exercise his $35.6 million contract option for next season and will become an unrestricted free agent, two people familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Friday.
The decision to decline the option for 2018-19 was expected by James because it gives him more options, which includes him re-signing with the Cavs, who can offer him the most money — a five-year, $209 million contract. James can also sign a short-term deal with Cleveland, something he has done each year since returning in 2014.
James had until 11:59 p.m. Friday to express his intentions to the Cavs, but his agent, Rich Paul, informed the team in the morning, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP because neither James nor the Cavs are publicly commenting on moves ahead of free agency opening.
The three-time champion is now the most coveted prize in a free-agent class that includes All-Stars Paul George and Chris Paul. Teams can begin negotiations with free agents at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
The fact that James didn’t pick up his option could be good news for worried Cavs fans, who fear he may leave them for the second time in his career. If he had opted in, it would have likely meant Cleveland had worked out a trade of James.
While the Cavs remain hopeful he’ll stay, there are other teams in the mix for the 33-year-old, and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be at the top of the list. With the ability to sign two maximum-contract players, the Lakers can build a “Super Team” with James if they are able to also land George or work out a trade with the San Antonio Spurs
“I’m excited about where we’re going and where we’re headed, and I think we’re going up. I want to be on that ride.” — DALE EARNHARDT JR.
or Kawhi Leonard. On Thursday, George told the Oklahoma City Thunder he’s declining his $20.7 million option for next season.
James already has some shallow roots on the West Coast with two homes in the Los Angeles area and a film production company. The chance to join one of the league’s most iconic franchises has an appeal to James, and he said after this year’s NBA Finals that he remains in “championship mode.”
The Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets are also believed to covet the four-time league MVP, who just played in his eighth straight NBA Finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors for the third time in four years.
James will factor family — he has three children, and his oldest son is a rising basketball star — into the choice of where he plays next.
James just completed his 15th NBA season, and it may have been his best yet. He played all 82 regular-season games for the first time, averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and a career-high 9.1 assists. He showed no signs of slowing down; if anything, he found a new gear.
James then carried the Cavs, with their flawed roster after a massive trading deadline turnover, through the Eastern Conference playoffs — they survived two Game 7s and swept the top-seeded Toronto Raptors — to another NBA title showdown with the Warriors.