Ranking the 'realistic destinations' for LeBron James based on Rich Paul's white board: 76ers and Warriors lead the way

The NBA world awaits LeBron James' free-agent decision, but if history is any indication, it could take some time.

James was quick to choose the Lakers in 2018, but his free agency appears to be more open than it was in 2014, when he announced his return to the Cavaliers on day 11. 

It might not take 11 days for James to pick his next and potentially final team, but if recent comments by agent Rich Paul are to be taken seriously, the NBA legend is still sifting through interest from a number of teams.

Here's a look at Paul's whiteboard of interested teams and a ranking of which destinations are most realistic for James.

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Rich Paul's whiteboard, explained

Speaking on the "Game Over" podcast, Paul put together a whiteboard listing out potential destinations for James.

The whiteboard listed 10 teams. In the center were the 76ers, Cavaliers, Heat, Timberwolves and Nuggets, while the Warriors, Mavericks, Knicks, Spurs and Celtics were on the outskirts.

Pressed by Max Kellerman about whether the Warriors being on the outskirts means anything, Paul said, "You can think whatever you think. This is just my board. You decide what you want to think. But we know Steph and Dray are the Hall of Famers, so that’s clear."

Paul effectively said at multiple points that the resumes of Curry and Green speak for themselves, also noting that the golf would be "amazing" for James.

Paul interestingly added that James would likely choose the Knicks if they hadn't won the NBA Finals. If Knicks hadn't won there'd be no board," Paul said. "He'd be going to Knicks."

So, where could the king be going? Here's the updated list.

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Ranking LeBron James' 'realistic destinations'

1. 76ers

Paul mentioned again how much James is enamored with Tyrese Maxey, and there is no doubt the 76ers would give him a legitimate chance to win next season.

Between Maxey, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and VJ Edgecombe and a championship-winning coach, James would be walking into a situation that takes the pressure off of him to be a dominant player while giving him a chance to play alongside friends and compete for a title. James is also familiar with new 76ers president Mike Gansey, who spent the bulk of his career in Cleveland's front office.

2. Warriors

It probably isn't worth overreacting to Paul's placement of the Warriors on the outskirts of the whiteboard. James values relationships, and his relationships with Curry and Green are excellent, by all indications. Playing for the Warriors would also allow James to stay in relatively close proximity to Southern California, and the potential to play with Anthony Davis is still on the table.

Winning a championship, however, would be a difficult task with a core so old and the top of the Western Conference dominated by the Thunder and Spurs.

3. Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have plenty going their way in these sweepstakes, if they want to shake up their core and fit James into the picture. The idea of finishing your career back home has to be on James' mind, especially with the chance to compete among the top teams in the East. Paul also pointed out that the presence of some executives from James' previous stint, including Koby Altman and Brandon Weems, is something to consider.

4. Heat

As far as reunions go, Miami could also be pretty fun for James. The location itself is probably more appealing than Cleveland, and James already returned to Cleveland once. The Heat are looking to win now with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, though there are questions about guard play in Miami that wouldn't be any more answerable with James in the fold.

5. Timberwolves

The Timberwolves reportedly very much want James to consider them, and they might give him the best chance to win with Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels all in the fold. The West will be tough to navigate and Minneapolis might not be the ideal location for James, but this would be a fun arrangement.

6. Nuggets

Similar to the Timberwolves, the Nuggets already have the core pieces in place to be a playoff team but probably aren't positioned to win a championship right now. James could change that. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have already done it together, but there are questions about Christian Braun's oversized contract, Aaron Gordon's soft tissue injuries and the viability of coach David Adelman.

7. Celtics 

Brad Stevens, facing backlash for the Jaylen Brown trade, could make one more big splash by pairing James with Jayson Tatum. Boston might have to do something to keep up with an increasingly competitive East, and there's no doubt the allure of the Celtics' rich history would force James to listen. For now, though, it's tough to imagine the Celtics going that route.

8. Mavericks

The Mavericks were listed by Paul in part due to Masai Ujiri and non-basketball reasons, but the fit doesn't make much sense for either side. Dallas isn't ready to seriously compete next season, and the appeal of playing with Kyrie Irving at this stage of their careers shouldn't outweigh that for James.

9. Knicks

Paul was clear that the Knicks would be at the top of James' list if they hadn't won a championship, but they did, and it wouldn't make sense for New York to shake things up by adding someone who will turn 42 in December. Chemistry is critical for the Knicks, and they can't go out of their way to change it now.

10. Spurs

The Spurs are reportedly out of the James sweepstakes after signing Tobias Harris, and it's unclear if they were ever in. A James-Victor Wembanyama duo would be fascinating, but it's best for San Antonio to stay the course right now.