The Los Angeles Lakers are out of the playoffs, and Lebron has ended his 23rd NBA season without another ring. At 41 years old, Lebron played and won a full playoff series as the first attacking option, having to carry the Lakers who were without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. If these playoffs proved anything, it’s that Lebron isn’t done yet.

Various bookmakers, including some Ontario sports betting sites, have had odds for Lebron’s various options, but with the season now over, and Lebron James now an unrestricted free agent, he could be heading anywhere. Here’s four options for Lebron’s final season, from the obvious, to the emotional, to the wildcard.

Where will Lebron play next season?

Option #1: Lebron resigns for the Los Angeles Lakers

Lebron James has spent 7 seasons of his career with the Lakers, including 2 conference final appearances and one championship in 2020. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on the roster, plus a few good moves in the off-season, the Lakers could well challenge for a title next year, especially with Lebron.

There’s also the personal angle for Lebron. He’s built a life in SoCal, and his son plays on the team. One more year on the Lakers is hardly a hard way to close out your career, and he’ll still be playing for a contender.

Option #2: Lebron signs for the Cleveland Cavaliers

The emotional homecoming option, favored by some of Lebron’s more diehard fans. Lebron returns to the team that drafted him, where he won them their first ever title. In LA, he’s one of many Lakers legends, not beloved like Kobe or Magic. In Cleveland he’s a god.

Lebron in Cleveland also allows him to escape the stacked Western Conference; joining the Cavaliers would make them instant favourites in the East. Their roster would need a little tweaking, and Lebron would have to take a pretty major paycut, but the allure of a storybook ending with a title in Cleveland might be too much for Lebron to pass up.

Option #3: Lebron signs for the Golden State Warriors

Lebron and Curry on the same team? It’s enough to get an NBA owner salivating. These two would absolutely own the airwaves together, dominating conversation for the entire year. Also, with Jimmy Butler hopefully returning to form after his knee injury, they would have a legitimate big three.

With a tough Western conference, even the combo of Lebron and Steph wouldn’t guarantee a ring. However, having seen the two play together in the Olympics, we know how well it works, and how much the two get on. It makes more marketing sense than basketball sense, but why not roll the dice and go out as the centre of attention?

Option #4: Lebron signs with the Toronto Raptors

It may seem a little out of left field, but signing with a team like Raptors is maybe the most basketball-first decision Lebron could make. The Raptors have a solid amount of capital and talent that they are ready to blow up in a big trade, so building a team around Lebron would make sense. They did it before with Kawhi Leonard, and it won Toronto a championship.

Toronto could flip some of their assets into a genuine team around Lebron, and with a wide open Eastern Conference, it might give Lebron his best chance at a ring. It might be the storybook ending like Cleveland or Golden State, but it would give him a real shot at a 5th ring.