Tap here to view theScore's NBA Offseason Tracker, which includes the latest transactions and rumors.
The third spin through free agency for LeBron James was far less exciting than the first two.
James has agreed to a two-year, $47-million deal to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Chris Broussard and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
No television special. No Sports Illustrated essay. No change of address. Just a simple re-signing at his maximum allowable salary.
While the contract is technically for two years, the second season is a player option that James will almost surely decline, barring catastrophic injury. James signed a similar deal last summer, with the player option standing as injury insurance and the flexibility of an opt-out affording James the opportunity to maximize his earnings when the salary cap rises in 2016.
Given how the cap is expected to rise in 2017, signing a similar deal after opting out next summer will represent his best way to maximize his earnings. Using current cap estimates for the next two seasons, here's a look at why James would approach his contracts in this way:
The likelihood of James leaving Cleveland - after a ceremonious homecoming, following an NBA Finals loss, and with his legions of local fans - was always microscopic. The optics would have been poor and another move detrimental to his legacy, even if it can "speak for itself."
Instead, James reportedly took a wait-and-see approach to his new deal, ensuring that the Cavs made the requisite commitments to fielding a winner. They've done that and more, re-signing Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert, adding Mo Williams, and shopping Brendan Haywood's non-guaranteed contract for another roster player.
They're also still expected to re-sign restricted free agent Tristan Thompson, who shares an agent with James. Thompson and the Cavs hit a snag in negotiations and reports suggested that James could wait out a Thompson deal before committing, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Cleveland is set for a potentially historic luxury tax bill, but retaining James is worth every penny and stands to make them one of a small handful of title favorites.
Even at age 30, James was phenomenal in 2014-15, particularly in the playoffs and into the NBA Finals despite a ridiculous workload. He averaged 25.3 points, six rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 69 regular-season games and pushed those numbers to 30.1, 11.3, 8.5, and 1.7 over 20 Herculean playoff outings.
As far as accolades, he's made 11 All-Star teams, won four MVPs, two championships, two NBA Finals MVPs, two All-Star Game MVPs, made nine All-NBA first teams, and five NBA All-Defensive first teams.
He also won Rookie of the Year, has led the league in scoring, won two Olympic gold medals, and ranks 20th in all-time league scoring. His career-long assault on the record books will continue in Cleveland, and there's a good chance his Cavaliers will be in the mix for the city's first major sports championship since 1964, again.
