COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Earth seemed to stand still for hours Thursday afternoon and evening amid rumors that Lebron James was about to announce where he would be playing basketball next season. But no decision was forthcoming.
King James is deciding between Miami and Cleveland, the same choice he faced four years ago. A four-time NBA MVP now with championships won in in Miami, he still calls Ohio home so it’s obviously not an easy decision.
So much is at stake for both franchises. For the Heat, keeping James is likely the only way they can stay a championship-contending team for a fifth straight season next year. For the Cavaliers, it’s a chance to welcome home the player who fans — and the team’s owner — directed so much scorn toward when he left in 2010.
It’s anyone’s guess when his silence will break.
The three-team trade that gave the Cavs salary cap space to possibly land James is official.
Cleveland sent guard Jarrett Jack and swingman Sergey Karasev to Brooklyn and center Tyler Zeller and a first-round draft pick to Boston. Cleveland acquired a future conditional second-round pick from the Celtics and the draft rights to forwards Ilkan Karaman and Edin Bavcic from the Nets. The Celtics will get guard Marcus Thornton — and his expiring $8 million contract — from the Nets.
The Cavs and Boston Celtics confirmed the deal on Thursday when the NBA moratorium on signings ended.
The deal is designed to give the Cavs enough room under the salary cap to offer James a maximum contract of $20.7 million.
The team also announced that All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving has signed his contract extension. The Cavs hoped locking up Irving with a long-term deal would make them more appealing to James.
The Cavs reached an agreement with Irving on a five-year, $90 million extension last week in the first hours after free agency opened. Irving is now under contract with Cleveland through the 2019-20 season.
Irving averaged 20.8 points, 6.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 71 games last season, his third with Cleveland. The former No. 1 overall pick was also voted MVP of the NBA’s All-Star game.