LOS ANGELES, July 1 -- American basketball superstar LeBron James has agreed to a four-year, 154 million U.S. dollar deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, his agency group Klutch Sports tweeted on Sunday evening.
"LeBron James, four-time NBA MVP, three time NBA finals MVP, fourteen time NBA all-star, and two-time Olympic gold medalist has agreed to a four-year, 154 million U.S. dollar contract with the Los Angeles Lakers," Klutch Sports said at 5:05 pm.
Three minutes later, ESPN Senior NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski confirmed the news via Twitter. Pundits said the Lakers were obviously one of the early favorites to land James after the leader of the Cleveland Cavaliers declined his 35.6 million U.S dollar player option for the 2018-19 NBA season.
Los Angeles is a big attraction for James as the Lakers has ample salary cap space at their disposal and James owns multiple homes in the city.
Shortly after word spread of James agreeing to a contract with the Lakers, Kobe Bryant offered his reaction, via ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, who tweeted: "Kobe Bryant will have a lot to say about LeBron in due time. For now, he says in all caps, 'I LOVE IT.'"
"The franchise hoped to lure the 14-time All-Star with the proposal of pairing him with a second star, either by trade or free agency," the Lakers Nation news website said.
The star-studded free agent class included DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George and James' longtime friend Chris Paul.
Wojnarowski tweeted ten minutes later after he revealed James' move: "As trade talks have unfolded, Kawhi Leonard's focus is unchanged: He wants to be a Laker."?