During the NBA offseason, LeBron James opted into his player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, yet questions about his long-term role grew louder once Luka Dončić agreed to a three-year extension to remain in Los Angeles. For more than two decades, James has been the centerpiece of every team he has played for, and the idea of ceding the spotlight poses a new adjustment.

According to a poll conducted by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, 20 executives, scouts, and coaches around the league offered predictions on James’ future. Twelve respondents said they believe he will either stay with the Lakers or retire, but others suggested different outcomes. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and Miami Heat all received votes — and one respondent even predicted James would join the Dallas Mavericks.

Bontemps noted the lack of agreement across the poll, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding James’ next step.

“As James enters his 23rd NBA season, and after the drama that played out after he opted into his contract this summer, there has been plenty of speculation about his future,” Bontemps wrote.

One Eastern Conference scout provided a candid assessment of the overall mood around the league.

“If I was taking the Lakers or the field,” the scout said, “I’d take the field. But I’ll take the Lakers over any specific team, especially given they are the one with a clear path to pay him.”

Others leaned toward the possibility of James closing the book on a historic career this season.

“It just feels like it’s where it’s going to end,” a Western Conference scout said.

The Mavericks have quietly emerged as a curious possibility, though the fit is far from straightforward. Dallas already has most of its roster under contract for next season after securing extensions for P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford. Without significant roster movement, creating cap space to add another frontcourt star would be difficult, and James is unlikely to take a minimum or mid-level deal.

Still, the connections are there. James has long been close with Anthony Davis, who was dealt to Dallas last season. He also shares ties with guard D’Angelo Russell, who recently joined the Mavericks. On the bench, Dallas features five coaches from the Lakers’ 2020 championship team, including Jason Kidd and Frank Vogel.

Even so, the idea of James in Mavericks blue remains a long shot. The franchise would need to shed contracts to bring him aboard, and the mutual desire for such a partnership has yet to be signaled by either side.

For now, the most likely scenarios remain the same: a 23rd season in Los Angeles, or the final chapter of one of the most accomplished careers in basketball history.