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LeBron James in $208m deal to join the LA Lakers

LeBron James has agreed to join the LA Lakers on a four-year NBA deal worth $US154 million.

LeBron James has agreed to join the LA Lakers on a four-year NBA deal worth $US154 million. Photo: Getty

LeBron James is to join the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time to join one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises.

James’s management team made the announcement, saying he has agreed to a four-year, $US154 million ($208 million) contract.

The game’s best all-around player and biggest star will now lead a young and rebuilding Lakers team that has been overmatched in recent years.

The announcement changes the scope of both the eastern and western conferences as the Lakers look to re-emerge as championship contenders.

This marks the first time James will play for a team in the hotly-contested western conference, which includes heavyweight teams such as the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers’ big off season might not be finished with All-Star forward Kawhi Leonard reportedly requesting a trade to LA from the San Antonio Spurs.

For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Ohio in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning one title, in 2016, in the 11 years they had him.

The 33-year-old, who has averaged 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game in 1143 career contests, also won two NBA titles in four seasons with the Miami Heat.

Los Angeles will also provide James with a larger platform for his business interests and social activism. He already owns two homes in Southern California and has a film production company.

Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.

Shortly after word leaked about James’s decision, the Lakers made another move by re-signing guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $US12 million deal ($16.2 million) according to ESPN.

Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists a game in his first season in LA.

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