James announced the decision to stay with the Cavaliers in a video on Uninterrupted.
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LeBron James officially signed the three-year, $100 million contract that makes him the NBA’s highest-paid player for the first time in his career. Moreover, in the 2017-18 NBA Season, LeBron James will get the heftiest pay in the history of the NBA worth $33 million.
However, reports are saying that the Cleveland Cavaliers are doing everything they can to bring J.R. Smith back to the team’s roster for more than just another season. Both times, he declined the option so he could maximize his earning potential in every year.So, in reality, this is a two-year, $64 million deal with a roughly $36 million player’s option.
He exercised his player opt-out this offseason on a contract that would have paid him $21.6m next year before agreeing to the record deal.
The Warriors figure once again to be the National Basketball Association most popular road team after adding the top free agent of 2016, Kevin Durant, to a team that already included league scoring leader Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. It exists to prevent teams from circumventing the cap by signing players who will retire before the deal’s up, and that’s obviously not LeBron, but he’ll be over 36 by the end of a five-year deal, so it applies to him nonetheless.
James was widely expected to sign his latest contract next week – his annual LeBron James Family Foundation Event is Tuesday at Cedar Point – but he was here now and obviously ready to sign. “I can’t be more excited than this opportunity once again, man, to defend our crown, you know, defend our title”.
“I just can’t wait to get the group back together, the team, the franchise, more importantly, get everybody together”.
James also said he hopes the team can convince free agent guard J.R. Smith to return next season. I’m ecstatic. I can’t wait to see my guys.
The Cavaliers reversed that result this season, bringing the first professional sports championship to the OH city since 1964.
The Knicks will play at home on Christmas Day against the Boston Celtics and then New Year’s Eve in Houston.
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With James’ contract complete, a new deal for Smith would be the last key piece of Cleveland’s offseason as the defending champs prepare for 2016-17.
