LeBron James' next team is 'obvious' if he decides to extend his career

Even before the season began, all signs pointed to this being LeBron James' final year with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He didn't sign a contract extension, and with Luka Doncic in town, the team didn't seem too eager to give him one, either.

James has mulled retirement and has been brutally honest about the end of his career. However, it would be surprising if he didn't run it back for at least another season.

Considering that, Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic reported that people close to the four-time NBA champion speculate that he's bound to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one last dance. 

LeBron James' return to Cleveland is 'obvious' 

“LeBron James will be a free agent this summer, and if he chooses to play a 24th NBA season, sources close to him said Cleveland would be an obvious destination. His salary would not be close to the $52.6 million he’s earning now in Los Angeles, but at age 41 he is aware of the market realities facing him if he extends his career,” the report read. 

The Cavs just swapped Darius Garland for James Harden and got significantly below the second apron, so there's some wiggle room there.

A Big 3 of LeBron, Harden and Donovan Mitchell, with former Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley anchoring the paint, would certainly have a chance to make some noise in the Eastern Conference, even with two of their stars up in age.

James reportedly doesn't want a farewell tour, but if he's going to make one last movie-like move to close out his legendary career, it may not get any better -- or more obvious -- than this.