For some reason there was a lot of speculation about whether or not LeBron James will up and leave Cleveland again even though they won the NBA championship. Well it turns out he is opting out of his contract (for money reasons we already knew), but he IS staying with the Cavaliers.
LeBron James fully intends to return to the Cavs to defend the NBA championship they just won next season.
“I love it here. I love being here. I love my teammates,” James told cleveland.com, moments before he boarded a float at The Q for the Cavs’ championship parade through downtown Cleveland. “Obviously my agent will take care of all the logistical things but, I’m happy. I’ve got no plans to go nowhere at this point.”
James, 31, can become a free agent if he decides not to exercise the one-year, $24 million player’s option in his contract. He will all but certainly decline the option on June 29 so he can get a raise from the Cavs — he can make upwards of $30 million next season under a new contract.
Free agents can begin negotiating with teams July 1 and can sign July 7.
He recorded this video with his adorable family at the championship parade today. You can view the live stream of the parade HERE.
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LeBron James brings a championship parade with the @cavs to Cleveland! pic.twitter.com/PeytHHcgaF
— NBA (@NBA) June 22, 2016