The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

Ditching the process

LeBron James signs a four-year deal with the Lakers

- By Tom Withers

CLEVELAND » LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.

The NBA’s best player announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league’s most storied franchises and switching conference­s to try and 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 and have to be satisfied with winning 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 and made the announceme­nt less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.

This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.

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 this year’s NBA Finals said he is still driven and very much in “championsh­ip mode.”

Los Angeles will also provide James with a larger platform for his business interests 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 emo

 ?? GREGORY SHAMUS — POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE ?? In this file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green during the first half of Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals, in Cleveland.
GREGORY SHAMUS — POOL PHOTO VIA AP, FILE In this file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James shoots against Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green during the first half of Game 3 of basketball’s NBA Finals, in Cleveland.

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