LeBron James is literally the most valuable pro athlete of our time, generating more than $80 million a year in revenues and more than $250 million in franchise value for the Cavaliers. Both figures almost certainly rank as the highest in team sports. And that cash, plus millions more that LeBron pumps into Cleveland's municipal economy, will vanish if James bolts this summer.
But here's the shocking twist: Even if the Cavs do re-sign him, their best financial days are probably behind them.
How much is LeBron potentially worth to the Cavs moving forward? To find out, you must be an ESPN Insider.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
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Peter Keating
Keating's blog covers the world of statistics and analytics. He will examine concepts for evaluating athletes and teams across all sports, not just those commonly associated with sabermetrics. He'll introduce researchers who are developing sports analytical tools. And he will present and examine "Next Level" findings from ESPN -- data analysis that goes beyond official statistics to explain strategies and performance.
Keating is a senior writer at ESPN the Magazine, where he has covered investigative and financial stories since 1999. He coordinates The Mag's annual "Ultimate Standings" project, which ranks all pro franchises according to how much they give back to fans. His work on concussions in football has earned awards from the Deadline Club, the New York Press Club and the Center for the Study of Sport in Society.
As an athlete, Keating has always combined the speed of Lou Piniella with the glovework of Darryl Strawberry, two childhood favorites. He lives in Montclair, N.J., with his wife, Karen, and their daughters, Eleanor and Samantha.
E-mail Peter: pkeating.nj@verizon.net or follow him on Twitter: @PKStatsBlog.