LeBron James makes it official: he’s taking his talents to the Lakers.
The King is coming to Los Angeles.
LeBron James agreed Sunday to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, his agency, Klutch Sports, said in a news release posted on Twitter. James also reportedly spoke to the Cleveland Cavaliers, his former team, and the Philadelphia 76ers about new deals before making his franchisealtering decision known.
James cannot officially sign his new contract until Friday, and the Lakers management team of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka could not comment on the agreement Sunday. But current and former players and others welcomed James on social media.
“Welcome to the family @kingjames,” former Lakers guard Kobe Bryant wrote on Twitter.
Point guard Lonzo Ball tweeted: “Y’all really thought he was gonna pass up the greatest city in the world ... #TheKingIsHere.”
Forward Kyle Kuzma tweeted a gif of him hugging James following a game last season and also wrote: “LAKESHOWWWW. @ kingjames let’s go my brotha let’s rock.”
The Lakers probably aren’t done with their offseason roster makeover, either. It’s believed they continue to have a strong interest in acquiring disgruntled forward Kawhi Leonard via a trade with the San Antonio Spurs, pairing him with James for next season and beyond. Leonard can become a free agent next summer.
The Lakers also agreed to a new contract with free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a one-season, $12 million deal, which limits their ability to sign another free agent to a socalled “max” contract like the one to which James agreed.
The Lakers also signed Lance Stephenson to a oneyear deal.
DeMarcus Cousins of New Orleans, a free agent James has called the best center in the NBA, had interviews scheduled with the Lakers and the Pelicans this week. The Lakers could sign Cousins to a shorter-term contract or make several moves to clear salary-cap space in order to add him to their roster.
James’ agreement comes nearly three months after the Lakers finished the regular
season with a 35-47 record and missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive time. He is viewed as the only man capable of lifting the storied franchise on his massive shoulders and returning it to greatness.
His arrival Saturday on a private jet at Van Nuys Airport was greeted by reporters beyond a chain-link fence and a news helicopter in the air. Videos and photos of him getting off the plane after a family vacation on the Caribbean island of Anguilla went viral.
James, a four-time MVP and a three-time NBA champion, is seen in Lakersland as nothing short of a savior. At 33, he is coming off one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame-caliber career, averaging 27.5 points on 54.2 percent shooting, plus 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 36.9 minutes.
He also averaged 34 points on 53.9 percent shooting, plus 9.1 rebounds and 9 assists in 41.9 minutes during the playoffs, when he and the Cavaliers reached the Finals before losing in four games to the Golden State Warriors. It was his eighth consecutive Finals appearance.
The last time James missed playing in the Finals was 2010, when the Lakers outlasted the Boston Celtics in seven nerve-jangling games to win their most recent championship, their 11th title since moving to Los Angeles in 1960-61 and the franchise’s 16th overall.
Only the Celtics, with 17 titles, have won more.
Also
Aaron Gordon is staying in Orlando for big money. A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Gordon agreed to a four-year, $82 million deal to remain with the Magic. Gordon is going into his fifth season. He averaged a career-best 17.6 points per game last year for Orlando, but was limited to 58 games . ... Glenn Robinson III has agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons. A person with knowledge of the agreement says Robinson has agreed to a one-year contract with a team option for 2019-20. Robinson averaged 4.1 points and 14.7 minutes a game last season for Indiana . ... Gerald Green and his hometown Houston Rockets are staying together. The Houston native has agreed to a one-year deal at the $2.4 million minimum. Green averaged 12.1 points last season for the Rockets.