LeBron James continues his chase for National Basketball Association greatness with the storied franchise of the Los Angeles Lakers.
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This is going to be fun, in no small part because this has been a long time coming. “Call the Lakers”, he said. The fourth season on the contract reportedly includes a player option.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported James flew into Los Angeles prior to the start of free agency. After trashing LeBron James after he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time, Dan Gilbert praised James the second time around.
Three days after James’ Cleveland Cavaliers faltered in the 2018 Finals, he had a root canal done and was recovering at home in Ohio. Whether they land Leonard or not, having James in a market like LA is the ultimate recruiting tool to bring other star players aboard.
It might be a longshot, but it’s the only thing getting Cavs fans through right now.
Start making your “lightyears vs. bright lights” t-shirts now.
However, that’s the base line for what the Lakers roster could look like with LeBron.
All jokes aside, though, it’s clear that LeBron’s time in Cleveland had run its course.
One other victor in the LeBron deal?
That young core is excited about LeBron to the Lakers.
LeBron is heading to LA. It does not provide him a better team though – at least not for now.
A new LeBron 2,600-pound banner was installed in 2014, when he came back to Cleveland. 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”. Capela is a restricted free agent, which means the Rockets can match any offer the Lakers or another team make. Given the make-up of the West, the Lakers probably are the conference’s third- or fourth-best team and the possibility of a Kawhi Leonard trade still lingers.
The tweet made official what had been reverberating around the National Basketball Association for days: James, despite no clear path for the Lakers to become a championship contender next season, will ship West to Los Angeles after spending the past four seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had formed a terrific partnership with Anfernee Hardaway and had already led the Orlando Magic to one finals appearance, and in his final season with that team took them to the Eastern Conference finals.
LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year deal that will pay him $154 million.
The Lakers have failed to make the play-offs for the last five seasons.
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One of them is Lance Stephenson, who famously blew into LeBron’s ear during a playoff game, creating a meme and being immortalised in a Nicki Minaj lyric.
