LeBron James can become a free agent in 2018 and he's widely expected by executives around the NBA to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"He's out," a Western Conference scout says.

"Foregone conclusion," one Eastern Conference general manager said.

James has been most strongly linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. The top three reasons why James would want to join the Lakers are to further cement his post-playing career in TV and film production, leading three different franchises to a title and to create a potential path to an ownership stake with the Lakers.

James has relinquished his goal of matching Michael Jordan's three championship rings, according to a source.

"That was once his obsession," the source said. "But even if LeBron thinks he has five good years left, he's not thinking he's going to beat Golden State four out of the next five years. I don't think he's making it about that anymore. When he said, 'I don't have anything left to prove' during the Finals, that's where that came from."