Waiting on kings is nothing new. To go fox hunting, to begin banquets in the great hall, to make decisions that affect his royal subjects. Until reports surfaced early Friday, King James did just that: he made everyone wait.

Once LeBron threw in his hat with Cleveland, the rest of the NBA free agents fell in line. In an effort to help you sift through all the news from the past week, I’ll help you get up to speed by breaking everything down into what you’ve heard, and what you probably haven’t heard.

Lebron James

What You’ve Heard
Some media members claimed they had an inkling, insist they thought it was a five percent chance, but they had no idea. No one did. LeBron’s taking his talents out of South Beach, and everyone working for the Heat was just as shocked as we were. They’re keeping a stiff upper lip, but they’re not happy that James is headed back to Cleveland. They thought he was coming back to them.

What You (Probably) Haven’t Heard
This was a PR move first, a business decision second, and a basketball decision third. James is very conscious of public image, how he’s perceived, and what the media says about him. He clearly never wanted to be the villain, and so he’s using his return to Cleveland – and the article he wrote for SI explaining that move – as his redemption. It was a clever move. Of course, there is a possible downside: The Cavaliers could suck for the next two years. Maybe more than any other team in the NBA, they’re right on the precipice of either being really good, or really bad. They’ll be good if LeBron, Irving and Wiggins are healthy this year. They’ll be great if Wiggins lives up to his potential, or if the Cavaliers can trade for Love. But they could stink – and this has a higher chance of happening than most people want to acknowledge – if Irving is constantly hurt, and Wiggins struggles with growing pains. If that happens, it’ll be LeBron and two aging three-point shooters. And nobody else. Possible scenario nobody’s talking about: LeBron only signed a two year deal. If the Cavaliers suck the next two years and miss the playoffs, LeBron might once again withdraw his talents from the Cleveland bank. Until then, this and only this in Cleveland.

Carmelo Anthony

What You’ve Heard
Anthony likes money. He went with the team that offered him the max deal – his final major payday in the NBA – and that was the hometown New York Knicks. The Bulls couldn’t carve out enough money, and the Lakers are at this point, well, an unattractive destination. No one wants to go there in the post Dr. Buss world. Anthony chose money over winning, and he’s laughing all the way to the bank.

What You (Probably) Haven’t Heard
Anthony likes winning a little bit more, and money a little bit less than we initially thought. Reports surfaced yesterday that Anthony actually took five million less than the max deal he was offered, in an effort to help the Knicks acquire more talent. Now, he’s no Robin Hood – his contract is for $124 million, instead of $129 million – but the sentiments are clear. One, he has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he’s dedicated to keeping his family stable in New York, which is admirable. And two, that five million will go a long way towards helping to attract one of the big free agents in 2015. Maybe Melo’s not as selfish as people say. Maybe.

Chris Bosh/Dwyane Wade

What You’ve Heard
This one’s pretty cut and dry. Wade, as he’s done throughout his time with the Heat, is taking less money yet again to help the team. By doing so, the Heat were able to pull Bosh away from the Rockets with a max offer, signing him for five years and $118 million. Thanks to Wade’s loyalty and selflessness, the Heat will be better than many predicted heading into the offseason.

What You (Probably) Haven’t Heard
The Heat think they can be better than “pretty good.” With Bosh taking center stage again, as he did in his Raptors days, expect his points per game to jump up to 26 or 27. I’d also anticipate a newly motivated Wade. Throw in Shabazz Napier, their most talked about draft pick, and the Heat could make it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year, and be much better than the more talked about Cavaliers. Don’t count them out.

Pau Gasol

What You’ve Heard
Gasol wanted out of Los Angeles. Didn’t take a mind-reader to know that. There’s been friction with Lakers management ever since his injury-plagued 2011 season. Obviously, that was never fully resolved, with Gasol turning down more money from the Lakers to play for the Bulls.

What You (Probably) Haven’t Heard
He made the move Anthony wasn’t willing to; he took less money to play for a contender. Now, Anthony’s plan may work out in the long run, but there’s no question of the two teams, the Bulls have a better shot than the Knicks of winning this year’s NBA title. Yes, Gasol doesn’t play defense, but that’s not why they brought him there. They have numerous capable defenders, including the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Joakim Noah. They need people who can score, and that’s what the 34-year-old offers at this point in his career.

Lance Stephenson

What You’ve Heard
He blows in people’s ears. He starts fights with teammates. He wanted more money to stay with the Pacers. Oh, and he signed with the Charlotte Hornets for three years and $27 million.

What You (Probably) Haven’t Heard
He led the NBA in triple doubles last year. The man deserved more than the five year, $44 million offer he got from the Pacers, which was less per year than the Hornets’ offer and wouldn’t allow him to retest free agency during his prime. He might be the best player in the NBA you don’t know much about, and I’d bet he’ll have a big impact on the court for Charlotte.

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison via Flickr