When LeBron James signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers it was greatly accepted and even celebrated by many. When we saw it was a two-year contract we raised our eyebrows and questioned James’ motives, but a source believes it was merely to keep Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert in line.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst spoke on Sports Center this morning and said that James made several points when he signed with Cleveland. Windhorst said that James took a two-year deal for multiple reasons, but one was to keep Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert in line.
Windhorst clarified his statement by saying that James would have signed a two-year deal with any team he choose and it would have been the same situation with their ownership. James wants the option to gain as much money as he can from here on out, and a series of short term deals is the best way to achieve that goal.
LeBron understands that the salary cap increases every year and, with a brand new collective bargaining agreement and a new televison deal, the max contract will be much more gnerous in the coming years.
According to Windhorst and courtesy of Sports Business Daily, with a new collective bargaining agreement coming in the next few years, LeBron just wants to be in a position to capitalize.
“That is when a new league-wide TV deal is "expected to create a large jump in value of the maximum contract." Sources said that James as part of the deal will "have an option to become a free agent next summer but is fully committed to the Cavs long term." The salary cap -- depending on how the NBA's new TV contracts are put together -- is "projected to leap to as high" as $80M in '16, well higher than its current value of $63M. There also is "uncertainty" with the current CBA in '17, when the league or players can opt out, another reason James "wanted to keep his long-term options open when it comes to the structure of his contract”
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