Ending the wild speculation before July 4th, the NBA’s top free agent, 33-year-old LeBron James, signed a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, perhaps the most storied franchise in NBA history. After getting swept in the NBA finals June 8, the handwriting was on the walls for James to exercise his player option to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers. While most basketball analysts thought James would leave Cleveland and sign with the Lakers, no one knew for sure until CBS news broke the news at 5 PM PST, stunning the basketball world. James learned the hard way what happens in 2010 when he publicized “the decision” in Cleveland to leave the Cavaliers to join Dywaine Wade and the Miami Heat. After winning two NBA championships in Miami [2012, 2013], LeBron stunned the NBA again in July 11, 2014 announcing he would return to Cleveland.
LeBron delivered his promise to Cleveland, June 8, 2016 overcoming an unprecedented 3-1 deficit to the reigning NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, winning the first sports championship in Cleveland in 54 years. Two years later, after losing two consecutive finals to Golden State, LeBron made his third career decision today to rescue the struggling Los Angeles Lakers. Since Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant scored 60 points ending his 21-year-old basketball career April 14, 2016, the Lakers have been struggling to regain its past glory. LeBron comes to the Lakers hungry for relevance, after not winning a championship since 2010. Meeting with LeBron for dinner late last night, 58-year-old Lakers President Magic Johnson closed the deal with LeBron, pulling a rabbit out of his hat. Magic played his cards close to the vest June 24, saying he’d resign next summer if he couldn’t sign a superstar.
When James made his announcement today after meeting with Magic last night it couldn’t have been more dramatic, especially after Magic’s press event. By signing a four-year deal with the Lakers, LeBron essentially ends his career in Los Angeles, unlikely to keep going after age 38. ESPN’s top sports commentator Stephen A. Smith tweeted out his delight, watching the Lakers become relevant again. Smith believes James’ move breathes new life into the NBA, especially the Lakers that haven’t been relevant since Kobe’s last championship in 2010. James leaves Cleveland knowing that he delivered a championship in 2016 but sends the Cavaliers from the top of the NBA’s Central Division in 2018 to the bottom. Only in basketball that plays five men on the court and another nine players on the bench can one player make-or-break a team. Losing LeBron sends Cleveland back into the NBA lottery.
Without a superstar since Kobe’s 2016 retirement, Lakers’ 56-year-old President Jeanie Buss understands her late father Jerry Buss’s formula for success: Superstars, not just Lakers’ girls. Jerry Bush, who bought the team from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979, created show-time, transforming basketball into the ultimate entertainment empire. Bringing superstars to the Lakers like Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and now LeBron James, Jeanie followed in her father’s footsteps, bringing back show-time. Some pundits ask whether or not the Lakers with James have enough to compete in 2018-19 for an NBA championship, especially against the reigning Golden State Warriors.. Whether realized next season or not, James is likely to attract more big-time free agents to the Lakers, possibly San Antonio Spurs all-star Kawhi Leonard.
Whether Kawhi comes this year or next, Jeanie knew she’d instantly increase the value of the Lakers’ franchise by adding LeBron. Bought by her father for $67 million in 1979, the franchise was worth before LeBron $3.3 billion. With LeBron, Lakers’ ad revenues will go through the roof, giving Jeanie added resources with which to pay for future free agents. When top free agent Paul George signed a max-deal with the Oklahoma Thunder yesterday, the pundits thought it spelled doom for the Laders getting LeBron. When that proved wrong, Lakers’s front off rejoiced getting LeBron, realizing the Kawhi loomed around the corner, whether this season or next. Even with George staying in Oklahoma, James showed confidence that the Lakers would put together a winning team, knowing after eight years, the franchise would settle for nothing short of championships.
James wanted the move to Los Angeles because it enhanced his personal brand and better serves Klutch Sports Group that handles Lebron’s growing entertainment empire. Jeanie did what her brother Jim and former General Manage Mitch Kupchak couldn’t do: Add value the Lakers’ franchise. Hiring Magic as President of Basketball Operations and former sports agent Rob Pelinka as General Manager, Jeanie showed her management savvy, turning a floundering franchise around. Signing LeBron increased the Lakers’ Las Vegas odds of winning a NBA championship 7/2, about the same as the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets. Only the NBA champion Golden State Warriors have better odds at 10./11. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver looks ecstatic watching the Lakers get LeBron. Before the 2018-19 season begins October 4, the NBA already dominates professional sports’ headlines.
