LeBron James took a two-year deal starting at the veteran minimum, turning down far more money elsewhere to chase a title with Philadelphia.
It’s the shockwave decision heard around the basketball world as former Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James finally made his decision on his destination.
After enjoying a month or so of NBA free agency with interest from a handful of teams, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that James is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year, $8 million deal that includes a player option.
It’s a stunning free agency swing and for Philly, it’s a bargain deal.
They managed to beat out the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat among many other suitors for the biggest star on the market.
And it was by no accident – they had a full court press recruiting campaign.
The 76ers core of Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and Jaylen Brown led an aggressive courting of James aided by front office involvement to help seal the deal.
The destination is equally as shocking as the financial terms, as James earned over $52 million with the Lakers last season and will now start at the veteran minimum to earn under $3.9 million this next season.
However, James is certainly not hurting financially, and the priority in his decision was to contend for a title.
To read more about the stunning decision and how LeBron fits into Philly’s plans, here is the full story from 76ers Roundtable writer Anthony Pasciolla.
After being swept by the New York Knicks in their championship run back in the second round of the playoffs, Philadelphia made some major offseason decisions, including the major trade for Jaylen Brown that made them a contending roster – enough so to entice James.
While James isn’t exactly in his prime, he’s still game changing to a lineup as he now projects as Philly’s starting power forward.
It’ll undoubtedly ease some pressure off Maxey and Embiid to be playmakers as the 76ers are now suddenly an Eastern Conference favorite.
