It¡¯s official. LeBron is a Laker.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced the signing of LeBron James as a free agent
Monday night Josh Jackson
Packers Jersey , confirming the seismic shift created by the
four-time NBA Most Valuable Player¡¯s decision to leave Cleveland for the 16-time
champion franchise on the West Coast.
James¡¯ representatives at Klutch Sports Group tweeted a photo of James
signing his contract with Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka. James¡¯ agency
already announced last week that the superstar had agreed to a four-year deal
worth $153.3 million with Los Angeles.
The Lakers have missed the playoffs in a franchise-record five consecutive
seasons, while James has played in the past eight NBA Finals with the Miami Heat
and the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning three titles.
The 33-year-old budding entertainment mogul immediately becomes the focus of
the Lakers franchise and a possible foundation for the NBA¡¯s next superteam,
depending on whether James and the Lakers can persuade more superstars to join
him in the next year or two.
Magic Johnson, the Lakers¡¯ president of basketball operations, called James
¡±the best player in the world¡± in a news release.
¡±He loves to compete and is an awesome leader who is about winning and making
sure that his teammates are successful,¡± Johnson said. ¡±The Lakers players are
excited to have a teammate who has been to nine NBA Finals. It¡¯s a huge step
closer to returning the Lakers to the playoffs and to the NBA Finals.¡±
James is coming off one of his greatest NBA seasons, playing in all 82
regular-season games for the Cavaliers while finishing third in the NBA with
27.5 points per game and hitting career highs with 8.6 rebounds and 9.1 assists.
He then carried Cleveland to its fourth consecutive NBA Finals, where the Cavs
were swept by Golden State.
¡±This is a historic moment for the Lakers Cheap
Breeland Speaks Jersey , and we could not feel more grateful and
honored,¡± Pelinka said. ¡±When LeBron James ¨C a perennial NBA MVP and champion
who is playing at the most astonishing levels of his career ¨C chooses to join
the Lakers, it serves as the ultimate validation for what we are building here.
However, we all know that the work is not yet done.¡±
James¡¯ arrival is indeed validation for Johnson and Pelinka, who took over
the Lakers¡¯ front office in February 2017 with a specific plan to rebuild the
franchise by persuading established superstars to join as free agents.
The Lakers already have begun assembling a revamped team around James by
acquiring Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee and Lance Stephenson in free agency while
retaining guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Los Angeles also assembled a
reasonably talented young core before James¡¯ arrival with Brandon Ingram, Lonzo
Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart.
But they didn¡¯t even get a meeting with star scorer Paul George before the
Southern California native re-signed with Oklahoma City, and their efforts to
acquire disgruntled two-way superstar Kawhi Leonard from San Antonio haven¡¯t
borne fruit so far.
The Lakers don¡¯t appear to be planning a public event to welcome James to Los
Angeles Cole Beasley
Jersey , where he already owns multiple homes and spends summers
with his family.
But Blaze Pizza ¨C the growing pizza chain in which James is an investor ¨C
announced a three-hour pizza giveaway on Tuesday to welcome James to LA.
LeBron responded with a tweet , his first since June 26: ¡±Haven¡¯t been to a
pizza party in a minute ¡ Culver City?¡±
¡ª
The youth of the Colorado Avalanche has been a big part of a playoff push but
is encountering some speedbumps recently.
A week ago, the Avalanche were in a strong position to make the postseason a
year after earning just 48 points, but a sudden stop to the offense has
contributed to losing three of four and dropping a point out of the second wild
card in the Western Conference with five games left heading into Friday¡¯s home
game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Colorado (41-28-8) has scored four regulation goals in the last four games
and snuck a win against Vegas in a shootout last Saturday.
¡°Everybody goes through spurts where you don¡¯t score as much as you¡¯d like
to,¡± Avalanche right winger Blake Comeau said after Wednesday¡¯s 2-1 loss to the
Philadelphia Flyers. ¡°When that happens, you have to buckle down
defensively.¡±
The goal drought has come at an unfortunate time.
Top goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who has played in 21 straight games, missed
Wednesday¡¯s game with an illness. His backup, Jonathan Bernier Authentic Joe
Mixon Jersey , is dealing with an infection in his left hand from a
cut so Andrew Hammond was recalled from the AHL to start against the Flyers.
He gave up two goals in the first period but settled down to make 31 saves in
his Avalanche debut.
The good news for Colorado is Varlamov and Bernier may both be available
against Chicago. Varlamov worked on the ice Thursday and Bernier said he is
ready to go, although coach Jared Bednar said he won¡¯t decide on a starter until
the morning of the game.
The Avalanche will need both in a tough finish to the season. Three of the
last five games are against teams it is now chasing for the two wild card spots
¡ª Anaheim, Los Angeles and St. Louis. The bad news is the only non-playoff team
the Avalanche face is Chicago.
The Blackhawks are coping with an unexpected demise from the No. 1 seed in
the 2017 Western Conference playoffs to out of the postseason picture that is
leaving fans nostalgic for the good days of three Stanley Cup titles from
2010-15.
So, it is not surprising there was plenty of recognition of defenseman Brent
Seabrook playing in his 1,000th career game during Thursday night¡¯s 6-2 win over
Winnipeg.
It is a milestone game at the end of a disappointing year that will not
include the postseason for the first time in 10 years. Chicago is firmly
entrenched in last place in the Central Division, a spot previously occupied by
Friday¡¯s opponent, the Colorado Avalanche.
Chicago is infusing young players into the lineup and defenseman Blake
Hillman could make his NHL debut soon after signing a two-year deal this
week.
In recent years having the Blackhawks on the schedule was a negative, but
with major injuries ¡ª center Jonathan Toews is out, as is goaltender Corey
Crawford ¡ª and a look at young players Roquan
Smith Bears Jersey , Colorado can earn two vital points Friday
night.
The Blackhawks (32-36-10) are looking for some hope that this season is an
aberration. But with the core of the team aging, chances are this might be the
near future Chicago fans can expect.
¡°I think next year¡¯s team is going to look very similar to this year¡¯s team,
not identical,¡± general manager Stan Bowman said in February. ¡°We¡¯re going to
have some changes.¡±
.