LeBron James is signing with the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA's most iconic franchises. James's agency made the announcement on Sunday in a release, saying he had agreed to a four-year, $US154 million ($208 million) contract. LeBron James thanks Cleveland fans. ( Instagram: kingjames The game's best all-around player and biggest star will now lead a young Lakers team that had been overmatched in recent years while rebuilding. Los Angeles also provides James with a larger platform for his business interests and social activism. This is the third time in eight years James has changed teams. He returned to the Cavs in 2014 after four seasons in Miami. James took to Instagram soon after the announcement to thank the Cleveland fans for the past four seasons with the Cavaliers. The 33-year-old had previously said he wanted to finish his career in Ohio, and although he's leaving home again, Cleveland fans are more forgiving after he ended the city's 52-year sports championship drought in 2016. Social media went into meltdown on the news, after months of speculation about where the year's most prized free agent would land next season. LA was one of several teams that were reportedly vying for James's services next season, with Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets also touted as possible teams to pick up the player that many basketball fans and commentators believe is the greatest of all time. As soon as the announcement was made fans noted that his new coach, Luke Walton, was in the same rookie class as James. Loading One of the first to congratulate James' move was Lakers guard Lonzo Ball, who has made plenty of headlines of his own in his rookie season. Loading Lakers make moves Shortly after word leaked about James's decision, the Lakers made another move by re-signing guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $12 million deal, according to ESPN. Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game in his first season with Los Angeles in 2017-18 after spending his first four NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons. Loading The Lakers' big offseason might not be finished. Another star forward, Kawhi Leonard, reportedly wants to go to Los Angeles via a trade from the San Antonio Spurs. By adding James, the Lakers immediately figure to reverse course from a recent downturn. Los Angeles has missed the playoffs for five consecutive seasons, which is the longest streak in franchise history. The Lakers have 16 championships, including back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 with Phil Jackson as coach. Current coach Walton led the team to a 35-47 record last season after it went 26-56 in his first season at the helm in 2016-17. ABC/wires<doc-sep>After years of photoshops showing LeBron James in purple and gold, the Los Angeles Lakers faithful can back away from the computers. James will join the Lakers after playing his 11th season with the Cleveland Cavaliers which included his 8th straight NBA Finals appearance but his second straight Finals loss. His agency, Klutch Sports, announced it via their twitter page. Our own Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today confirmed that it was indeed the official account of Klutch Sports even though the account is not officially verified on twitter. James has agreed to a 4-year, $154 million deal with the Lakers, keeping him in Lakers colors until his 20th season. James has a 4th year option. James joins the Lakers as the only star after Paul George elected to stay in Oklahoma City and the Lakers have yet to make a deal for Kawhi Leonard. However, he does join a group of talented but inexperienced players on the Lakers. But James joining the Lakers could give them more leverage in talks with the Spurs now that James is already a Laker. Also, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Leonard’s desire remains to be a Laker. Sources: As trade talks have unfolded, Kawhi Leonard’s focus is unchanged: He wants to be a Laker. https://t.co/0wZGf5MrNt — Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2018 The Lakers finally have the star they’ve waited for since Kobe Bryant’s injury.<doc-sep>Earlier in the day, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that talks between the Lakers and Spurs, which had grown cold, then heated up again, with Los Angeles feeling “urgency” to get a trade done by Sunday, the first official day of the NBA’s free agency period. James has until midnight Friday to decide whether to opt out of his contract with the Cavs, while another major factor in the free agency landscape, Paul George, reportedly decided on Thursday to opt out of his deal with the Thunder and hit the market.<doc-sep>
LeBron James is to join the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises. James’s management team made the announcement, saying he has agreed to a four-year, $US154 million ($208 million) contract. The game’s best all-around player and biggest star will now lead a young and rebuilding Lakers team that has been overmatched in recent years. The announcement changes the scope of both the eastern and western conferences as the Lakers look to re-emerge as championship contenders. This marks the first time James will play for a team in the hotly-contested western conference, which includes heavyweight teams such as the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. The Lakers’ big off season might not be finished with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard reportedly requesting a trade to LA from the San Antonio Spurs. For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Ohio in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning one title, in 2016, in the 11 years they had him. The 33-year-old, who has averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in 1143 career contests, also won two NBA titles in four seasons with the Miami Heat. 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. 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. Shortly after word leaked about James’s decision, the Lakers made another move by re-signing guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $US12 million deal ($16.2 million) according to ESPN. Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game in his first season in LA.