Cleveland celebrates as prodigal son returns to Cavaliers

If LeBron James was going to win another NBA title, heal broken hearts and continue building his legacy, he knew there was only one place to go.

To Ohio. Home.

Four years after he left for Miami, a widely criticized departure that damaged his image and crushed a long-suffering city's championship hopes, James is coming back to play for the Cavaliers to try and end Cleveland's half-century title drought. He is returning to his basketball roots, to the people who know him best to make good on a promise.

James made the announcement on Friday with a powerful essay written for Sports Illustrated. His decision ended two weeks of speculation with the entire league waiting on his move.

When he finally made it, Cleveland was his choice over re-signing with the Heat.

"I looked at other teams, but I wasn't going to leave Miami for anywhere except Cleveland," he said to SI. "The more time passed, the more it felt right. This is what makes me happy."

James had not yet signed a contract, but he made it clear he will wear a Cavaliers jersey next season.

"When I left Cleveland, I was on a mission," James said in the SI first-person story. "I was seeking championships, and we won two. But Miami already knew that feeling. Our city hasn't had that feeling in a long, long, long time. My goal is still to win as many titles as possible, no question. But what's most important for me is bringing one trophy back to Northeast Ohio."

The talented kid from Akron is now a homecoming king.

Cleveland is thrilled to have him back. James is the league's best all-round player, a four-time MVP who was dubbed 'The Chosen One' as a can't-miss high school star who learned the game on the playgrounds of Akron, about 40 miles from Cleveland. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds, he can score from all over and is one of the game's best passers and defenders.

Staying in Miami would have been easy. He could have made another run at a third title and fifth straight NBA Finals appearance with close friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the other members of a 'Big 3' who have been the league's team-to-hate since 2010.

Instead, James picked the young, unproven Cavs, with a rookie coach, David Blatt, who spent last year in Israel. Almost unbelievably, he will again work for owner Dan Gilbert, who torched James on his way out the door in 2010.

For Cleveland, a city accustomed to so much sports heartache - as the Cavaliers, Browns and Indians have come close but failed to win it all - news of James' return triggered a spontaneous downtown celebration on Friday afternoon.

Car horns blared and strangers high-fived on the sidewalks outside Quicken Loans Arena, where James had so many big moments during his first seven seasons as a pro.

Four years ago, some fans burned his jersey. On July 11, 2014, all was forgiven.

The Cavs were considered a longshot when free agency opened. But as the days went by, Cleveland emerged as the leader, especially after clearing salary-cap spaces to offer him a maximum contract. While he was in Las Vegas earlier this week, James met Heat president Pat Riley, the architect who assembled Miami's back-to-back championship teams.

Riley made a final pitch, but he had nothing to match the overwhelming lure of home.

"Before anyone ever cared where I would play basketball, I was a kid from Northeast Ohio," James told SI. "People there have seen me grow up. I sometimes feel like I'm their son. Their passion can be overwhelming. But it drives me."

James' exit ends an era in Miami. The Heat face an uncertain future after four straight Eastern Conference titles. Wade and Bosh all opted out this summer, as did forward Udonis Haslem.

"I went to Miami because of D-Wade and C.B.," James told SI. "I believed we could do something magical if we came together. And that's exactly what we did! The hardest thing to leave is what I built with those guys."

James was scorned for turning his back on Cleveland in 2010, announcing his decision on a poorly conceived TV special. His critics said he was not good enough to win a championship by himself, and that he needed to surround himself with All-Stars.

James may never surpass Michael Jordan's six titles, but his legacy could be bringing one to Cleveland, devoid of a championship in any sport since 1964.

"I'm not promising a championship," he said. "I know how hard that is to deliver. We're not ready right now. No way. Of course, I want to win next year, but I'm realistic."

He is starting fresh with Gilbert, who famously wrote a blistering letter condemning James and calling him disloyal, narcissistic and cowardly.

At some point, the two worked out their differences.

"I've met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man," James said. "We've talked it out."

Gilbert, too, has moved on.

"I am excited for the fans and people of Cleveland and Ohio. No fans and people deserve a winner more than them," Gilbert said on Twitter.

BOSH HITS JACKPOT IN MIAMI

The Miami Heat went on the offensive after losing LeBron James on Friday by agreeing to a massive five-year, $118 million deal to retain nine-time All-Star Chris Bosh, according to a Yahoo report.

Free agent James had broken up Miami's so-called 'Big Three' by announcing he would return to his home state of Ohio and sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning two NBA titles with Miami.

James agreed to a reported four-year, $88 million deal.

Bosh, who averaged 16.2 points and 6.6 rebounds, had appeared headed to the Houston Rockets, who had offered him four years and $88 million to join Dwight Howard and James Harden before the Heat upped the ante after the exit by James.

The third member of the prodigious trio, Dwyane Wade, is also widely expected to remain in Miami.

The 32-year-old Wade, who has been battling injury problems, predated James and Bosh with the Heat and won an NBA title there in 2006 along with Shaquille O'Neal, and would likely be more valued by Miami than any other NBA team.

The decision by James to sign with the Cavaliers was expected to set off a chain of free agent signings with Carmelo Anthony leading a remaining class that included Luol Deng, Lance Stephenson, Trevor Ariza and Pau Gasol.

Before the James decision, Heat president Pat Riley had virtually ruled out the chances of Miami being able to afford adding free agent Anthony. Now money may not be a chief concern for the Heat.

Meanwhile, according to multiple media reports, the Lakers have acquired point guard Jeremy Lin and a first-round pick in a deal with the Houston Rockets while the Phoenix Suns have reached agreement on a four-year, $27 million contract for Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas.

The scoreboard at Cleveland's Progressive Field welcomes back LeBron James during Friday's baseball game between the hometown Indians and the Chicago White Sox. James is returning to the NBA Cavaliers after four seasons with the Miami Heat. Mark Duncan / Associated Press

(China Daily 07/13/2014 page11)