Days after leading the Cavaliers to their first ever NBA title and giving Cleveland its first professional sports championship in 52 years, LeBron James says he plans on returning to Cleveland next year.
LeBron James says he plans on returning to Cleveland next year
The King can can decline his one-year option and become a free agent, but don’t expect him to leave the Cavaliers a second time.
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“I love it here. I love being here. I love my teammates,” LeBron told Cleveland.com. “Obviously my agent will take care of all the logistical things but, I’m happy.”
James, however, did add one caveat (emphasis ours).
“I’ve got no plans to go nowhere at this point,” he said.
When he returned to Cleveland last offseason James signed a one-year deal with a second season tacked on as a $24 million player option. It’s widely assumed that he will decline that player option and become a free agent so that he can take advantage of the league’s skyrocketing salary cap and sign a new maximum deal worth around $30 million. It remains unclear if he will again sign a two-year contract with a player option to take advantage of the cap rising again next year or if he’ll just ink a long-term deal.
Prior to these quotes, there had been a couple rumors percolating that LeBron might consider leaving Cleveland again.
"From what I've been told, the Lakers and Heat are possibilities as a destination for LeBron James this summer," ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on the Mike & Mike morning show Monday morning, the day after the Cavaliers' Game 7 victory. Smith, you may remember, was one of the first reporters to have James signing with Miami in 2010.
But barring a major change of heart, it seems as if James is content chasing a second straight title with the Cavaliers.
“This is the happiest time in my life right now,” he said.
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