According to ESPN, LeBron James has agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal is said to be worth $46.9 million dollars, and the second year of the contract is allegedly a player option. This marks the first time in nine years James has re-signed with a team, the other times James opted to become a free agent. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers to play for the Miami Heat- where he won two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013. James rejoined the Cavaliers in 2014, and he made it to NBA Finals. Unfortunately, James and the Cavaliers lost the championship to the Golden State Warriors.
Forward Kevin Love has also re-signed with the Cavaliers; his deal is worth $113 million for five years. Love signed with the team last year, after playing the first six years of his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA All-Star was traded to the Cavaliers in 2014, and the deal was highly influenced by LeBron James. Love didn’t have the great season most people were expecting, but the forward seemed to have finally found his “groove” during the latter part of the NBA season. Love helped the Cavaliers sweep the Boston Celtics 4-0 in the first round of the playoffs, but he suffered a dislocated left shoulder, and he had to sit out for the remainder of the playoffs. Love underwent surgery, and he is expected to make a full recovery by the time NBA season returns.
The Cavaliers have also recently re-signed guard Iman Shumpert. According to ESPN, Shumpert’s deal is for 4 years and $40 million. The guard played an vital role in the Cavaliers’ season- averaging 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. The team is hopeful forward Tristan Thompson will also re-sign with the Cavaliers. Thompson is an integral piece to the puzzle that will allow the Cavaliers to make another run for the NBA championship. Despite losing to the Warriors in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the Cavaliers are still the favorites to win the title in 2016. The Cavaliers have never won an NBA title, and LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love are confident they can change that statistic.