LeBron James made the first move. Now what?

Cleveland? Los Angeles? Philadelphia? A surprise?

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James told the Cavaliers that he is not exercising his $35.6 million contract option for next season and will become an unrestricted free agent, two people familiar with the decision told the Associated Press on Friday.

The decision to decline the option for 2018-19 was expected by James because it gives him more options, which includes him re-signing with the Cavs, who can offer him the most money – a five-year, $209 million contract. James can also sign a short-term deal with Cleveland, something he has done each year since returning in 2014.

James had until 11:59 p.m. to express his intentions to the Cavs and his agent Rich Paul informed the team in the morning, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity to the AP because the sides are not publicly commenting on moves ahead of free agency opening Sunday.

The three-time champion is now the most coveted prize in an NBA free-agent class that includes All-Stars Paul George and Chris Paul. Teams can begin negotiations with free agents at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

The fact that he didn’t pick up his option could be good news for worried Cavs fans, who fear James may leave them for the second time in his career. If he had opted in, it would have likely meant the Cavs had worked out a trade for James.

And while the Cavs remain hopeful he’ll stay, there are other teams in the mix for the 33-year-old – and the Los Angeles Lakers appear to be at the top of the list.

With the ability to sign two maximum-contract players, the Lakers can build a ”Super Team” with James if they are able to also land George or work out a trade with San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard. On Thursday, George told the Oklahoma City Thunder he’s declining his $20.7 million option for next season.

James already has some shallow roots on the West Coast with two homes in the Los Angeles area and a film production company.

The chance to join one of the league’s most iconic franchises has an appeal to James and he said following this year’s Finals that he remains in ”championship mode.”

The Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets are also believed to covet the four-time league MVP, who just played in his eighth straight Finals.

James will factor family – he has three children, and his oldest son is a rising hoops star – into the choice of where he plays next.

James just completed his 15th NBA season [url=http://www.pantherscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-fozzy-whittaker-jersey]Fozzy Whittaker Jersey[/url] , and it may have been his best yet.

He played all 82 regular-season games for the first time, averaging 27.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and a career-high 9.1 assists per game. He showed no signs of slowing down, if anything he had found a new gear.

James then carried the Cavs, with their flawed roster after a massive trading deadline turnover, through the Eastern Conference playoffs – they survived two Game 7s and swept the top-seeded Toronto Raptors – to the NBA Finals for a fourth straight meeting with the Golden State Warriors.

It was James’ eighth consecutive Finals appearance, a remarkable feat not matched since Hall of Famer Bill Russell and a handful of Celtics did it in the 1960s. Cleveland was overmatched but James had the Cavs in position to steal Game 1 before a late-game missed free throw by George Hill and mental meltdown by Cavs forward J.R. Smith, who dribbled out the final seconds of regulation thinking his team was leading, led to an overtime loss.

With MVP Kevin Durant heading the charge, the Warriors completed a sweep of the Cavs and James, who revealed following the series that he had broken his right hand in a fit of frustration following Game 1.

James had numerous reasons to be upset. He had done everything possible, and as he left Quicken Loans Arena following Game 4 along with his sons, there was an air of uncertainty heading into this summer.

Those unknowns remain, but James is closer to solving them.

—


VANCOUVER [url=http://www.bearscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-dan-skuta-jersey]Dan Skuta Jersey[/url] , British Columbia — Let the comparisons begin.

Center Adam Gaudette, 21, will make his National Hockey League debut Thursday with the Vancouver Canucks (28-40-9) as they host the Edmonton Oilers (34-37-6) at Rogers Arena. The contest will be Gaudette’s first audition for permanent employment next season.

Many observers — including fans and media types alike — are ready to compare the former Northeastern star to other young hopefuls. The first comparison will be with injured rookie sensation Brock Boeser, who compiled 29 goals and 26 assists before being sidelined with a back problem earlier this month.

Boeser and others have said he benefited last spring when, like Gaudette, he joined the Canucks after completing his collegiate career. In his first nine NHL games in 2016-17, Boeser produced four goals and one assist. Now, others are wondering if Gaudette can display similar results.

Those wondering include Gaudette himself.

“It’s awesome to see how (Boeser) did this year,” Gaudette told reporters. “I followed him all year. I played with (Boeser) before we were both drafted. I played against him and we’ve been friends ever since then. It’s really cool to see somebody doing it (like Boeser), especially coming out of the NCAA. It just goes to show I could have that impact and, hopefully, do the same thing.”

Gaudette, a Braintree, Mass. [url=http://www.texanscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-jon-weeks-jersey]Jon Weeks Jersey[/url] , native, signed a three-year entry-level contract Monday. He was originally drafted by Vancouver in the fifth round, 149th overall in 2015.

Despite the late selection, he developed into a potential superstar. He led the NCAA in scoring with 60 points (30-30-60) in 38 games this season and is a finalist for the Hoby Baker Award. His 30 goals led the NCAA, and he garnered many weekly and monthly honors.

At 6-foot-1 and 184 pounds, he is also known for a physical two-way game and has been likened to Anaheim center Ryan Kesler and Canucks middleman Bo Horvat — among others. Gaudette strives to emulate gritty Boston center Patrice Bergeron.

However, Vancouver coach Travis Green just wants Gaudette to focus on his own game.

“He doesn’t have to be Brock Boeser,” Green told reporters. “He just has to be himself.”

And, play well defensively, according to the coach.

But Green is among many who hope that Gaudette can help the Canucks overcome their dearth of offense. He produced 142 points in 116 career games for Northeastern from 2015 to 2018.

“By talking to him and listening to him, I can tell he has a good head on his shoulders,” said Green. “We’ll see where he’s at. Obviously, people are excited in Vancouver. Rightfully so. And the organization is excited to get him in here.

“Everybody who talks about him talks about how driven he is to be a player. That’s really important for young guys.”

Meanwhile, many observers are questioning Edmonton’s drive. The Oilers will try to rebound against Vancouver after squandering a three-goal lead and losing 7-3 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

“Our defensive (game) is something we’ve got to solve here [url=http://www.bearscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-willie-young-jersey]Willie Young Jersey[/url] ,” Edmonton coach Todd McLellan told reporters. “I think we’re at 250 goals against and that’s never, ever going to make the playoffs in any year.

“We’ve got to make some decisions in the locker room whether that’s important enough.”

Simply put, the Oilers are a conundrum.

Despite Tuesday’s debacle, they have been playing reasonably well lately. They are 7-3-2 in their last 12 games, and captain Connor McDavid leads the league with 102 points after recording three against the Blue Jackets. But Edmonton’s power play was last in the NHL before Wednesday’s games.

In addition, McDavid is at the focal point of a debate that is starting to rage, at least, in Canada: Should he win the Hart Trophy as most valuable player for a second year in a row, even though the Oilers have been out of playoff contention for weeks?

The always humble McDavid has said he doesn’t know. But after watching the Oilers allow 12 goals in their past two games, he does know something for sure.

“We have to find a way to keep pucks out of our net,” he told reporters.

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