LeBron decides losing to Warriors might as well come with better weather

Less than 24 hours after 2018 NBA free agency, the greatest domino had fallen: LeBron James really, actually, seriously, shockingly, totally picked the LA Lakers. His agent announced the decision via a nondescript press release just after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news Sunday evening. There was no precondition for another star, so the fact that the Lakers struck out with Paul George didn’t matter. And now nothing else matters: LeBron is a Laker.

OK, something else matters: after the LeBron announcement, the Lakers quickly reached deals with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, two-time NBA champion JaVale McGee, and — I still don’t believe this — noted LeBron pest Lance Stephenson. This is wild. LA now has LeBron, Lance, Lonzo Ball, and Luke Walton — four Ls, or the same number the Warriors will almost assuredly give them in May.

The whole LeBron weekend will go down as legendary. SI’s Lee Jenkins has the details and reveals that LeBron and his wife were on a plane to Europe before the announcement even hit. LeBron reportedly won’t make a single public appearance until a charity event in Akron at the end of July. But LA will see plenty of him for the next four years. They’ll get plenty of opportunities to celebrate.

He really did it. He really, really did it. Lakers exceptionalism is back.

Lost in the LeBron maelstrom, Aaron Gordon re-signed with the Magic for $84 million over four years, well below his max and without truly testing the market. Gordon is still a vacuum-sealed bag of potential that no coach has truly opened, though Frank Vogel came closest last year. Perhaps Steve Clifford can do the trick.

You wonder if this is a Victor Oladipo special, where Gordon’s potential will allowable him to be traded in a big deal and actually find a good situation where he can thrive. Everyone seemed ready to move on, but Orlando can’t let their best prospect go for nothing and no one else was prepared to fight the Magic over him. Now that there’s real money attached to him, finding a trade might actually be easier. There’s something firm now.

Reminder: here’s our signing tracker and our rumors tracker. Other players getting deals on Sunday include Fred VanVleet, Mario Hezonja, and Glenn Robinson III.

Eight winners and eight losers from LeBron’s decision.

Dan Gilbert released a sweet statement thanking LeBron. A far cry from that infamous letter eight years ago ...

LeBron thanked Northeast Ohio in an Instagram story.

Yes, the Cavaliers are screwed.

The Young Lakers are very happy. So is Kobe Bryant.

Ben Hoffman looked at the other legends the Lakers signed or acquired in their primes. It usually works out pretty well.

There are other teams, of course. Paul Flannery wrote about the Mavericks’ decision on DeAndre Jordan, and the quick rebound tank.

The Thunder can cut $91 million off their luxury tax bill by waiving and stretching Carmelo Anthony. Should they?

I have five theories on why Kevin Durant keeps signing short deals with the Warriors.

He did it. He really did it.

Be excellent to each other.