Imagining LeBron James as a Net, a Bobcat, a Cavalier (Again)... Illustration by Sam Manchester/The New York Times; Photograph by Getty Images Speculation will follow LeBron James wherever he plays this season. Iamagine if another city can lure him from South Beach. A new N.B.A. season is upon us, and competition for the league's most coveted prize figures to be fierce. We refer here not to the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, but to the king of potential free agents. With LeBron James having an out in his Miami Heat contract next summer, has your favorite franchise devised a nontampering romancing plan should James decide to take his talents from South Beach? You may have noticed that N.B.A. free agency receives more attention than actual N.B.A. games. That's because the league and its partner sponsors are so heavily invested in creating celebrities and half the country is asleep or just plain tired of indoor sports when championships are won in mid-to-late June. Nobody ever gets bored with watching grown men grovel, however. When James last peddled himself to the most persuasive bidder - Pat Riley, who emptied a cloth bag of championship rings on the bargaining table - his decision rated a capital D and was watched breathlessly in prime time. Mass hysteria followed. James's jerseys were burned on the streets of Cleveland. Nationwide, he was called a traitor, a fraud and even a whore (on the cover of a book whose author happened to also quit Cleveland to go work someplace else). But who could now blame James for wondering about growing old in Miami, especially after already winning two championships for the city and after Rolling Stone predicted it might soon be underwater because of rising seas? That would surely put a crimp in the city's night life and, worse, limit the Heat's ability to attract good role players. While promising not to talk about free agency during the pursuit of a third straight title, a quest that begins Tuesday night at home against Chicago, James recently told ESPN: "I would love to spend the rest of my career in Miami with this great team and great organization as we continue to compete for championships. That's ideal. But we don't know what may happen from now to the end of the season. That's the nature of the business. In other words, the King must be wary of Dwyane Wade's projected health and Miami's ability to stay on top. His mind and eyes are open. So here is an imagined sampling of what he might see and hear as he makes his itinerant rounds. Or perhaps not that imaginary. FRIDAY, AT NETS: For cap reasons, the Nets probably cannot contend for James unless he remains with Miami without extending his contract and opts out in 2015. But all they need to do to establish their viability is flash their combined 2013-14 payroll and luxury tax bill - an estimated $183 million - on the Barclays Center big screen when James and Miami drop by for Brooklyn's home opener. And have Mikhail D. Prokhorov hammer the message home by grabbing the mic to announce that, "I spend more to win championship than my good friend Mr. Putin wastes on silly Olympic figure skating and bobsled." 16, AT CHARLOTTE: The owner Michael Jordan tells The Charlotte Observer that James is a better player than he ever was and that he certainly could never beat James one on one. Jordan then gets sick to his stomach, but only when no one is watching. 27, AT CLEVELAND: An arena full of Cavaliers fans takes in the overdue spectacle of the owner Dan Gilbert presenting James with a framed No. 23 jersey he wore in Cleveland - in Miami, No. 23 is retired in honor of Jordan - while raising a replica to the rafters of Quicken Loans Arena. Traitor? Gilbert says. Who ever said that? 25, AT L.A. LAKERS: With Kobe Bryant making his season debut, the Buss family calls a news conference to announce that it will team with Harvey Weinstein and that it has signed James to star in a remake of "The King and I." Jack Nicholson will co-star along with Carmelo Anthony. Bryant will direct. 27, AT SACRAMENTO: The minority Kings owner Shaquille O'Neal picks up James at the airport in a Buick LaCrosse and tells him, "I may have retired from the game, but not from being big." How can you be big in a cow town like Sacramento? James says. "Son," Shaq says, "wherever I go is Gotham City. And you, too. 28, AT PORTLAND: The Nike strongman, Phil Knight, offers James a stake in his company if he joins the Blazers. He also promises to build a new manufacturing plant in James's native Akron, Ohio. "We'll call it Jamestown," Knight says. 9, AT NEW YORK: At Walt Frazier's Wine and Dine on 10th Avenue, Frazier greets James and entourage at the door. Earl Monroe and Bill Bradley show James to a table. The lights dim. Willis Reed limps over to James and says, "I'll be your waiter, King James. May I suggest one of our finest Champagnes, a 1970 vintage. ... 18, AT DALLAS: The Cowboys owner Jerry Jones welcomes James to Dallas by offering him the starting tight end position for one game every season - if he'll become a Maverick. MARCH 19, AT BOSTON: In a pregame ceremony, the Celtics reretire No. 23, adding James's name to Frank Ramsey's jersey in the rafters. Bill Russell quietly offers James his sainted No. 6 - James's Miami number - should he join the most successful professional basketball team in history. "Young man, you have no idea what it's like to win until you've won as a Celtic," Russell says while pulling back his sports jacket to reveal his .38-caliber Smith & Wesson. No pressure, though. He slaps James's back and unleashes his world-famous cackle. APRIL 16, MIAMI: Before the Heat's last regular-season home game, a copy of the "The Winner Within" appears in James's locker, with original Riley inscriptions: "Don't let other people tell you what you want" and "From contender to winner. From winner to champion. From champion to Dynasty. But not before another Decision.