NBA: “The Decision” and other memorable movements of July
Check some of the most prominent movements during the low season in July through the history of the NBA.
Julio is known in the NBA as a month of great players movement during The low season and beginning of free agency. We already saw in 2025 LeBron James Exercise your option for a 23rd season at the NBA and MVP Shai-Gilgeous Alexander Sign the extension of the contract with the highest annual salary for a player in the history of the League.
With the help of AM850 Research, then consult some of the most prominent movements, signatures and changes in the Julio preseason in the NBA history.
July 5, 2019: Kawhi, PG-13 arrive at Clippers; OKC is recharged
Kawhi Leonard agreed to sign with the clippers (late on the night of July 5 PT, early in July 6 ET), after Los Angeles acquired Paul George of the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Shai Gilgeous-AlexandeR, Danilo Gallinari and a generous compensation in Draft teams (including the one that became Jalen Williams).
July 18, 2018: Toronto Raptors ‘Rent’ to Kawhi Leonard
The Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard Danny Green of the Spurs is already a reduced package that included Demar Derozan. This It turned out to be the definitive profit, with Leonard leading the Raptors towards a title and winning the most valuable player award from the NBA finals during his only season in Toronto before signing for the clippers.
July 1, 2018: LeBron James goes to Hollywood
Klutch Sports announced on his Twitter account that LeBron James agreed to a maximum 4 -year contract with Los Angeles Lakers, a great contrast with James’s striking announcement as a free agent 8 years before (he continues to read for more information about this). James would take the Lakers to his 17th NBA championship in the bubble of Orlando in 2020.
July 4, 2016: KD leaves the Thunder to join the Warriors
The four times maximum scorer Kevin Durant announced at The Players’ Tribune that he would sign with the Golden State Warriorswho won 73 games the previous season, but wasted a 3-1 advantage over the CAVs in the finals. With Durant on board, the Warriors won the next two championships In a dominant way and KD was appointed the MVP of the finals both times.
July 11, 2014: Welcome back, ‘The King’ returns to Cleveland
LeBron James revealed in an article by Sports Illustrated that He returned to Cleveland to lead the cavaliers. James would take the Cavaliers to four consecutive finals, winning a title for your native state in 2016 When he headed a memorable comeback in the finals against the Warriors.
July 8, 2010: “The Decision” by LeBron James
LeBron James surprised the sports world by announcingthrough a special special of AM850, “the decision”, that would leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and took his talent to South Beach to join Miami Heat. This unleashed a storm of criticism and drama for the next NBA season.
Cleveland fans strongly criticized Jamesand some even burned their shirt in a public exhibition. The owner of the Cavaliers, Dan Gilbert, wrote an open letter to the fans, denouncing James’s actions and stating that the CAVs would win a NBA title before James.
July 31, 2007: Celtics acquire Kg and form their big 3
The Timberwolves changed Kevin Garnett to the Celtics For the Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff and two first round selections of the Draft. The agreement marked the largest transfer of the NBA in the history of a single player until that time, Giving Boston a new “Big Three”: Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.
July 14, 2004: Lakers decide for Kobe, change to Shaq
Shaquille O’Neal was changed to Los Angeles Lakers to Miami Heat By Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Cook and a future first round selection, Marking the official final of the Shaq-Kobe era in Los Angeles.
July 21, 1996: Shaq breaks records by signing with Lakers
Shaquille O’Neal signed a 7 -year contract for $ 121 million with the Lakerswhich was the largest contract in total value in the history of the NBA at that time. During his time in the Lakers from 1996 to 2004, O’Neal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships (2000-02) as the most valuable player of the NBA finals on each occasion.
July 9, 1968: Wilt Chamberlain arrives at the Lakers
The Philadelphia 76ers changed Wilt Chamberlain to Los Angeles Lakers By Darrell Imhoff, Archie Clark and Jerry Chambers, in addition to an unleashed amount of money. Chamberlainwho was appointed MVP of the NBA The three seasons prior to his arrival at the Lakers, he helped the Lakers win their first title in Los Angeles in 1972.
