The Los Angeles Lakers have landed the crown jewel of free agency after agreeing to terms with small forward LeBron James. With his new contract, James will join elite company from a financial standpoint.

James has long been one of the most highest-paid players in the league. However, according to NBA reporter Sean Highkin, his new four-year,$154 million deal will give him more career earnings than both Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett:

https://twitter.com/highkin/status/1013581700704526336

The news of James soon becoming the highest-paid player in history comes as no surprise. Given the rising salary cap, monster deals have become somewhat of a common occurrence in recent years. That said, it was only a matter of time before James surpassed the likes of Bryant and Garnett in career earnings.

Of course, the move was a no-brainer for any team that was hoping to sign James. He is slated to earn just over $25 million next season which will gradually increase to $41 million annually in the final year of his contract and is not eligible for a no-trade clause. This will not be an issue considering the team has the deepest pockets in the league.

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the Lakers netting James is what this means for free agency moving forward. This is the third time in eight years that he has switched teams. He managed to make it to the NBA Finals every season since then. That said, it is safe to assume James signed on believing in the likelihood that Los Angeles will be able to bring in another superstar. Regardless of how it plays out, the Lakers can take solace in the fact that they have the best player in the world on their roster.