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For the third time in his Hall of Fame-worthy career, LeBron James has changed teams during the NBA offseason. His latest, a decision to sign a 4-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, is easily the least impactful of the three. That should come as no surprise given the Golden State Warriors' dominance over the past couple of years and how they seemed destined for at least a couple more championships in the coming years.
To many, LeBron's move might not have been surprising given the number of rumors, indications and reports that were swirling even before his 2017-18 season had ended with the Cleveland Cavaliers - a 0-4 sweep at the hands of the Warriors in the 2018 NBA Finals.
Given the state of the Lakers before his arrival and even their free-agency moves after his assurance, it's quite clear that his decision to move to Los Angeles isn't one motivated only to win championships, unlike his "Decision" back in 2010 when he took his talents to South Beach - Miami Heat. The current Lakers' roster is not a championship contender, in fact, they will have to slog just to make the 2019 Playoffs.
So quite clearly, the King's decision to stay in Hollywood is a family decision - wife and kids. Before he begins his career with the purple and gold, we deep-dive into his contract and the financial impact of him signing this long-term deal with the Laker franchise:
#4 Four-year contract
At least three seasons of the four-year deal that LeBron signs with the purple-and-gold franchise is guaranteed making it the longest deal he has signed since 2010.
In 2010, as part of a sign-and-trade, the Cleveland Cavaliers gave up LeBron James in exchange for two second-round picks that they must use between 2013 and 2017, a 2012 second-round pick that the Heat received from New Orleans, a future second-round pick the Heat acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder, a huge $15 million dollar trade exception that the Cavaliers must use in one calendar year and a possible first-round pick swap in 2013 with the Miami Heat.
Having guaranteed years on LeBron's contract allows the Lakers to rebuild the right way and eventually become a championship contender once again without handicapping their future like the Cavaliers were forced to do in their most recent run of four straight Finals appearances.
More on this in the next slide.
#3 Contract has a player option after the 3rd year
In his second stint with the Cavs, LeBron never signed a deal that had kept him with the team for more than two guaranteed years. His longest deal was a 3-year $100 million offer that he signed in 2016, to make maximum use of the rising cap.
Over the four years (2014-18), he signed three contracts. He came back on the guarantee from owner Dan Gilbert that money would not be an issue while setting up a championship contending team. Despite getting that guarantee, he held his short-term contract as leverage.
His first contract, in 2014, was a 2-year deal worth $42.2 million with a player option for the second year. He opted out of that (worth $21.6 million) and signed another contract in the summer of 2015 - 2-years and 47 million with another player option at the end of the first year. Once again, in the summer of 2016, he opted out of $24 million and then signed a 3-year deal worth $100 million with an opt-out clause at the end of the second year (which he exercised to sign with the Lakers).
#2 Highest Paid Player in NBA History By Career Earnings
Given that LeBron has changed teams so many times, it's unlikely that he would be eligible for the supermax, so being the highest paid player in the league is not a list he's ever been on top of. However, the King has always taken the maximum the CBA allows him to take each year and after 15 years of domination, he is still the best player in the world right now.
That kind of talent demands money.
As things stand right now, LeBron is ranked 6th on the all-time NBA career earnings (only playing salary) list with Kevin Garnett at the top with a career earning sum of $334.3 million. Meanwhile, LeBron's career earnings are at $233.8 million right now.
Even if he were to exercise his player option and not play the fourth year with the Lakers, he will cross Garnett's tally with just three years of salary to become the highest paid NBA player ever by salary.
Note: The 4 player between KG and LeBron - Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki (most probably in his final couple of seasons, currently earning $5 million) are all retired so it's unlikely they will be any threat to LeBron's ascendance. Given the NBA's salary structure and LeBron's superhuman prolonged dominance, it's highly unlikely that any player will be able to cross him.
#1 Career Net Worth Set to Cross $1 Billion at the end of the contract
Forbes estimates that LeBron's current net worth stands at $765 million.
Surely, that is bound to reach the $1B mark by the end of his three or four years given the amount of money he earns off the court through endorsements. If his close associate - Maverick Carter - is to be believed, then LeBron's lifetime deal with Nike is said to be around 1 billion.
According to Forbes, the King earned $52 million, which is more than 60% of his total earnings from June 1st of 2017 to June 1st of 2018 through endorsements. Surely, if that trend is to continue, especially in the city of Los Angeles over the next 3-4 years, LeBron is bound to cross the $1billion mark.
Guess the Lakers players!
