Cleveland Sports Forum

Insider: LeBron’s decision coming Tuesday morning

LeBron James' latest decision will be announced Tuesday morning, according to a report.
JULY 1, 2018


Though LeBron James’ representatives are reportedly meeting with a contingent from the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday in Los Angeles, the man regarded as the best player on the planet has already made his choice as to where he will play next season, according to a report.

Nick Wright of FS1 reports the announcement of James’ latest decision will be made Tuesday morning.


nick wright
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@getnickwright
LeBron has made his decision & informed those close to him. Expect the official announcement Tuesday morning.

For the longest time I think everyone thought championships and players would decide where he plays.

Looks now that "business" is what he really wants. Not that Los Angeles can not win championships. Anywhere that Lebron is at other then Cleveland should attract players and will always have a shot at championships.

I would assume he is meeting with the 76ers to keep the heat on the Lakers to get better.

Also rusty these other teams have way more flexibility because of their young talent and developing roster and therefore far more upside in the near future.

Philly with Embiid and Simmons already have more talent then Cleveland and that's putting it mildly. And way more cap flexibility.

I don't think Lebron is considering Philly at all. Just a power play to keep the Lakers going after Kawhi or Boogie.

Oh yeah, certainly could be - but there is no doubt at all Philly has young talent that would fit Lebron into his senior years!

And Philly is a big market with little salary committed.

He's said a lot of this is about "family" so I agree it has to be Cleveland or LA.

Official, Lebron go Lakers for 4 years.

Yeah, Windhorst saying all his business friends and assets have been moving there for a few years now - basically from Miami to LA.

So this was in the works in a sense - and for sure Gilbert likely knew it.

The surprising thing is a 4 year deal here. Perhaps 33 years old talked this time.

Also keep in mind he is a union big wig at this point so taking a max 4 year deal may be a statement there too in this era of others (Durant) taking less so teams could build more assets around them.

Rachel Nichols is saying that his son will now go to a high school and be on the same team as Scottie Pippen Jr and Kenyon Martin Jr. after this year.

TFIR wrote:Yeah, Windhorst saying all his business friends and assets have been moving there for a few years now - basically from Miami to LA.

So this was in the works in a sense - and for sure Gilbert likely knew it.

The surprising thing is a 4 year deal here. Perhaps 33 years old talked this time.

Also keep in mind he is a union big wig at this point so taking a max 4 year deal may be a statement there too in this era of others (Durant) taking less so teams could build more assets around them.

He can re up after 2 years and really make the max. That is why George took a 4 year deal in OKC.

I think he can re up after 3 years?

Lloyd: LeBron James restored his hometown team. Now he’s off to do it again

Jason Lloyd

LeBron​ James returned​ to Cleveland​ four years ago determined​ to deliver greatness​ to a region starving​ for​ a championship. Now​ he’s off​​ again, this time determined to restore greatness to one of the proudest franchises in NBA history.

The fact James is leaving Cleveland for the Los Angeles Lakers isn’t terribly surprising. The Cavs have expected for two years now this day was coming. The fact he agreed to a contract Sunday longer than anything he has signed in Cleveland since 2006 is another indictment of the level of mistrust between he and Cavs owner Dan Gilbert.

James is on record multiple times saying that the league is better when its marquee franchises such as the Lakers and Boston Celtics are title contenders. But the Lakers haven’t been viable contenders since they beat the Celtics in the Finals in 2010. James has appeared in every Finals since.

Now, however, that streak is in grave danger.

James is playing the long game here. He leaves Cleveland for a Lakers franchise not yet ready to compete with the Warriors, and thus far he is going alone. After forming super teams in Miami and Cleveland in his past two free-agency moves, this time James has no assurance anyone else will join him.

Paul George has already declared he’s staying in Oklahoma City. Chris Paul, as expected, is staying in Houston. Unless the Lakers can acquire Kawhi Leonard in a trade, it’s likely James will be the only marquee star headed to Los Angeles this summer.

He’s well aware of that, and according to one source with knowledge of his thinking, James isn’t bothered by it. He is trying to build something sustainable over the twilight of his career and he’s doing it with one of the most legendary teams in sports; it’s the equivalent to playing for the Yankees in baseball.

If that means his Lakers aren’t ready to topple the Warriors next May, and his Finals streak ends at eight in a row, so be it. If it takes him until next summer’s star-studded free-agent class to find help, he’s willing to wait. The roster in Los Angeles is similar to what the Cavs looked like when he returned in 2014. Only there is no assurance a Kevin Love-type star is coming anytime soon.

James will eventually have to answer for insisting on multiple occasions he’d finish his career in Cleveland. But it won’t be anytime soon. He is packing again, headed to Europe this week for another vacation, multiple sources said. He returned from one tropical vacation and landed in Los Angeles just long enough to say his goodbyes to the Cavs over the phone at the start of free agency and then meet with Magic Johnson at James’ mansion Sunday night.

After Klutch Sports declared James was leaving with a simple one sentence, 36-word statement — no one-hour special this time, no heartwarming letter describing a return home, either — Gilbert responded with his own statement.

No vitriol this time, nothing about a cowardly betrayal. This time, Gilbert thanked James and his family, spoke fondly of the championship and concluded by dreaming of the night the Cavs retire his No. 23.

“LeBron, you came home and delivered the ultimate goal,” Gilbert said in the statement. “Nothing but appreciation and gratitude for everything you put into every moment you spent in a Cavaliers uniform.”

So what about the Cavs?

They’re certainly no longer championship contenders. Despite insistence from the organization that they are not interested in trading Love, multiple sources from around the league insist they are indeed open to moving him. It makes perfect sense to deal him now.

The Cavs’ first-round pick for next year is top 10 protected, meaning they can keep it if it falls within the top 10. Otherwise, they’ll lose it to the Atlanta Hawks as compensation for the Kyle Korver deal. Moving Love and launching a full-scale rebuild would almost assure the Cavs of finishing in the top 10 of the draft.

Those are decisions to make another day. For now, the Cavs are facing the reality they’ve been expecting for the last year. They made the Kyrie Irving deal with the Boston Celtics preparing for this day, which is why they made the draft pick that ultimately became Collin Sexton the centerpiece of the deal.

The Cavs have been frustrated for years that James would never commit to them long term. And despite Gilbert’s eloquent farewell this time, make no mistake, the relationship between owner and star player was never really restored.

James clearly trusts Jeanie Buss, Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka more than he ever trusted Gilbert. The four-year, $154 million deal he agreed to Sunday includes three guaranteed years. The fourth year is a player option, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. The last time he gave Cleveland a three-year commitment was 12 years ago when he was coming off his rookie deal. He even gave the Miami Heat and Pat Riley four years guaranteed in 2010. Despite his willingness to spend, James never trusted Gilbert enough to give the Cavs the same lengthy commitment.

As James departs with a much cleaner separation this time, it’s fair to say both Gilbert and James held up their ends of the agreement. Gilbert pledged to spend whatever it took to win a championship. He did. Then James delivered that title.

LeBron already restored one franchise. Now he’s off to do it again. Hollywood awaits.

So Cavs have said they were going to keep Love whether LeBron stayed or not. Anybody believe that?

Almost have to trade Love now and start a rebuild don't you?

Hopefully LeBron will make more money off movies and L.A. related projects. Cause not only did he miss out on Super Max contract but he's also just moved to the state with the highest income tax in the nation.

Moving back to Ohio from Florida was a hit. This will be a blow to the nuts.

Enjoy the Weather Tax.

Not nearly as upset as the last time he left. Matter of fact there is a part of me that is happy to be done with the drama surrounding him. Don't get me wrong. Would have preferred he would have stayed and kept us contenders for a while longer. But not like anybody is beating Golden State in near future anyway, so nice to be done with the drama. He always sucked the oxygen from, not only the room, but the arena, practice courts, and entire sports fandom of the city. Sick of the constant questions, and his narcissistic ass eating it up every step of the way.

Nice to be done with the guy that just never seemed to want to be here anyway.

I have to say, I just will never understand the mindset. If I were a pro athlete I would have went out of my way to play in Ohio during my career. This guy just couldn't wait to leave.

I'm appreciative of the championship. Only one in my lifetime from Cleveland sports. But this guy, as awesome as he was on the court, just will never be a legend in my eyes. He'll never be a Woody Hayes or a Bernie Kosar, even though he far surpassed Bernie's athletic achievements.

He could have been. He could have been the all time biggest legend in Ohio sports history. Hell, Ohio history period. He could have been bigger than General, War Hero, and President U.S. Grant. (Lord knows he blew threw Atlanta in the playoffs quicker than Grant's friend Sherman) But he just didn't want it.

He would rather leave and go to trendy Miami with the pools and night clubs when he was younger. Now that he's older he'd rather go to trendy L.A. and work on films & projects and rub elbows with stars.

He just is not one of us. No matter how many times he calls NE Ohio "home" I will never believe it.

But he sure was fun to watch while it lasted.

So it is no longer about rings...just rack up personal stats and make money away from the game.

Good thing the Cavs made the trades they could last season. They still need to dump salaries of some of Lebron's buddies like JR and TT.

Like I said, you almost have to at this point.. rebuild, get some younger guys, draft picks, and try to make something in a few years when the bad contracts are finally off the books.

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Facing an uncertain future following the departure of LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers could entertain the possibility of trading Kevin Love.

Per The Athletic's Jason Lloyd, multiple sources around the NBA have insisted the Cavs "are indeed open" to dealing their All-Star center.

This would represent a drastic change in approach for the Cavs heading into next season.

Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon reported on Saturday that the reigning Eastern Conference champions had no intention of dealing Love because they "would rather try to make the playoffs than immediately begin rebuilding without their iconic star."

With James committed to the Los Angeles Lakers, Love takes over the role of Cleveland's best player. He's owed $49.7 million over the next two years, per Spotrac.

Where's Lebron today ? Europe.