2018 NBA free agency grades: LeBron James chooses Lakers

LeBron James has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $154 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Let’s grade the Lakers on the biggest free agency signing of the summer.

The wait is finally over. Announced by representation at Klutch Sports, LeBron James has agreed to sign a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The contract will have a player option on the fourth year.

After finishing 11th in the Western Conference with a 35-47 record during the 2017-18 season, the Lakers pulled off what is possibly the greatest free agency accomplishment in the franchise’s history.

I mean, anytime you can sign the best basketball player on the planet (and possibly the best basketball player to ever play the game, depending on who you talk to), it’s a pretty nice night for the organization.

The biggest question surrounding the Lakers now is what comes next?

Can they finally give the San Antonio Spurs what they want in a trade package for Kawhi Leonard?

Can they free up enough room to sign DeMarcus Cousins after agreeing to bring back Kentavious Caldwell-Pope on a one-year deal?

Which guys in their young core (Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram) are going to be around for the LeBron circus ride?

We should know in the coming days, but I’m guessing the Lakers will move quickly.

The answers to those questions will surely be what separates them as a Western Conference juggernaut from just a solid basketball team. As the Cleveland Cavaliers found out the hard way, it takes more than just LeBron James to dethrone the Golden State Warriors. However, even though I think the Lakers will continue to make moves to try and solidify themselves as one of the league’s best teams, they can finally take a few deep breaths. They got their guy.

During the 2017-18 season, LeBron coasted through the season and still managed to average 27.5 points, 9.1 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game on 54.2 percent shooting from the field and 36.7 percent shooting from 3-point range. For a guy who has basically made it known that he doesn’t care about the regular season, those are pretty impressive numbers.

Okay, those are really impressive numbers.

But just like LeBron always does, he stepped up his game in the playoffs, where he averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists while playing an outrageous 41.9 minutes per game. The guy is 33 years old and only seems to be getting better. Most players are signing for the veteran’s minimum at that point in their career.

LeBron might be a robot — the jury’s still out on that one.

His last Cleveland stint will be remembered by the way he carried himself both on and off the court. Serving as an incredible role model for the youth and an incredible ambassador for the league, LeBron James is one of a kind, and he proved that the last four years in Cleveland.

Oh yeah, and he ended Cleveland’s nightmarish championship drought in the four major sports. That’s kind of cool, too. Maybe people will remember that.

So congratulations to the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the NBA’s premier franchises. They haven’t had a winning season since the 2012-13 season, but it looks like that’s all about to change.

Showtime is back in L.A.

Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far

Grade: A+