Shamus/GettyLeBron James, the former star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, will be joining the Miami Heat.

Keivom/NewsJames arrives at the Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich, Conn.

If LeBron James is to build himself into a billionaire, he will do so elsewhere. 

Despite the years of clearing cap space, rearranging their roster to mirror his needs and eventually sending former coach Isiah Thomas as the closer, the New York Knicks' investment of time into James ended Thursday with no return. James, a lifelong Ohio resident from Akron, uprooted from his home state when he announced that he will sign a contract with the Miami Heat. He will join forces with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. 

The protracted process lasted eight days and nights. James, who had not spoken publicly since becoming a free agent on July 1, revealed his selection during an hour-long episode on ESPN. He chose to do so at a Boys & Girls Club in Greenwich, Conn. 

Guessing James' destination became a parlor game in recent days. At times, media reports mapped James' escape route to Chicago, New York and New Jersey. Others felt that James would not be able to overcome the pull of staying put in Cleveland. 

In seven seasons, James has twice won the NBA's MVP award, yet has never won a championship despite reaching the NBA Finals in 2007. The Cavaliers' attempts to revamp their coaching staff with new hire Byron Scott were not enough to placate James, who maintains a mansion in Akron. 

New York invested the most hype in its search. For several seasons, Knicks strategized how best to attract James, but as the announcement drew near, it became clear that their efforts had fallen short.