4:40pm: The third year is a player option, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter).
4:26pm: The last major free agent has finally come off the board, with the Cavaliers and LeBron James reaching an agreement on a new deal, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). According to the scribe it will be a three-year, $100MM arrangement. There is no indication yet if the deal includes any options, be it player or team.
The agreement will see James become the highest paid player in the league for the first time in his career, with the veteran set to earn approximately $31MM this coming season, Windhorst notes. The deal will pay him in excess of $33MM in 2017/18, which would be the highest single-season contract in league history, per the ESPN scribe.
There was little intrigue this offseason regarding James making his return to Cleveland, despite the superstar remaining unsigned until now. With the Cavs securing the NBA title this past season, it was merely a matter of when James would sign, not if.
James appeared in 76 games this past campaign, averaging 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 35.6 minutes per outing while shooting .520/.309/.731 from the field. The 31-year-old was equally impressive in the postseason, logging 26.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 7.6 APG in 21 contests.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bad move Cavs. Washed up. Ha
Shocker
Surprised he didn’t go for another 1 and option.
Underpaid
Blame The Grizzlies for this.. Giving Conley that kind of money.. He ain’t a top 10 player.
this contract will be topped very soon i dont think highest paid nba player ever is record that will stand very long no mater who the player is
What a great move by the cavs lol.
I guess lebron has learned he won’t get his mega payday after all so he just signs a 3 year deal
I’m curious how this deal doesn’t count as a mega payday in your view? LeBron becomes highest paid in league, plus, can still head someplace warm to play with his buddies in two years if he wants. Can’t see this being anything but a win for James.
I’m curious too on how you are a writer here. You have to think in his shoes, not as a normal person writing for a sports website.
Although he did sign a contract which gives him the largest pay in the league, what we are talking about here is the 3 year deal with player option on the third year. Given that the cap is going to rise again next year, Lebron would totally benefit from signing a 1+1 deal again and resign a 5 year max next year(even with the early bird raise problem). Given he signed a 3 year deal, I would assume that he probably have an idea on how the next CBA will be constructed, thus deciding to lock in a larger contract and make a move at a later date. In addition, if he signed a 1+1 instead, he would be able to join his buddy earlier. So how is this 2+1 deal a win? Or rather, he could have been in a better situation, despite this already being a win(at least from our perspective)
There is nothing to comment on here. Cavs owe LeBron everything. It’s the only move
Agree LJ deserves it .. No question about it.. It’s NBA salaries are getting out of hand.. But ultimately it’s the owners money … But there’s a catch because this means possibly rising tickets prices and more commercials break.. Which it is kinda annoying nowadays compared to years back
Interesting on the number when you consider inflation. MJ signed for $30 mil in 1998, which would be equivalent to $44 mil today, so a lot of “highest salaries ever” is inflation-based. Also, in terms of the amount of profits being made now vs. then, these salaries are a drop in the bucket compared to $30 mil in the late 90s, when a lot more teams were under water and the league was not nearly as profitable. I hate to say this, but players are underpaid in that light, especially LBJ.
Obviously this is the contract lebron wanted he can do what ever he wants.