Cavs owner Dan Gilbert knows the future of his franchise rests on the young shoulders of LeBron James. That’s why the franchise has taken on a three-pronged approach aimed at keeping the superstar in Cleveland after this season.
The Cavs have embarked on a “keep LeBron” program that has three broad strokes: (1) upgrade the talent around their young star; (2) invest in the comfort and enjoyment of the team as a whole; and (3) take care of the every need of LeBron and his powerful entourage. Not necessarily in that order.
In August, James will have the opportunity to sign a five-year contract extension worth around $75 million, keeping James in Cleveland until he’s 27. He’ll have until Oct. 31 to accept. If he chooses not to sign, he’d become a restricted free agent after the 2006-07 season. For his part, James is excited about the extension.
“I can’t wait to sign my extension,” James said recently. “I’m very happy here.”
It remains to be seen whether this is just talk to keep the fans happy for the remainder of the season or genuine excitement from the young superstar. James seems like a standup guy, so based on these quotes, I’d expect him to be in a Cavs uniform for at least six more years.
