According to reports, LeBron James to re-sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They will pay him $100 million over the next three years.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN broke the news on Thursday afternoon:
LeBron James new 3-year, $100 MILLION deal makes him highest paid player in the league for first time at $31M this season
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) August 11, 2016
Report: LeBron James to Re-sign with Cleveland Cavaliers
James will earn more than $33 million next season. This will be the highest single season salary in the history of the NBA. His contract will also take him through the end of the 2018-19 season.
James averaged 25.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game last season for the Cavaliers while leading the franchise to its first ever NBA championship. James fulfilled his promise to the city of Cleveland, ending a 52-year championship drought between the Browns, Indians, and Cavaliers. In a season that appeared to be a two-horse race between the 73-9 Golden State Warriors and the 67-15 San Antonio Spurs, the Cavaliers ultimately finished on top, defeating the Warriors in the NBA Finals in an epic seven game series.
Last Off-Season
The past two off-seasons in which James was an unrestricted free agent were arguably the two most publicized and memorable free agency periods in the history of the league. His infamous decision to take his talents to South Beach – ditching Cleveland for the Miami Heat in 2010 – was then followed by his emotional homecoming in 2014, when he stated his determination to keep his promise and bring a championship to Northeast Ohio. This free agency period, however, has been much less eventful for James. There was never a doubt in his mind that he would leave Cleveland again.
Speculation
Even though James always appeared to be committed to the Cavaliers, the media looked for reasons he may leave. His comments about wanting to play with Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony provided some doubt. His mid-season vacation to Miami to workout with Wade added some fuel to the flames. Some even suggested after the Finals that the Cavs championship would increase the likelihood of him leaving; since he didn’t owe anything else to the city. Despite all the rumors, James never had any intentions of leaving this summer. He also appears more than ready to help the Cavaliers defend their title.
Looking forward, James will look to continue his run of six straight Finals appearances. Now a 31 year old father of three, James appears to be leaving his prime as an athlete. It will be interesting to see how many more years James has left; as well as how many of those years he will still carry the mantle of best basketball player in the world.
Check out the LWOS 2016 NBA Free Agency Tracker for all of your NBA free agency coverage, and be sure to follow @LastWordHoops on Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest NBA news.
Main Photo
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 19: LeBron James #23 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate after defeating the Golden State Warriors 93-89 in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
