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Whereas LeBron James famously held court as a half dozen teams tried to woo him during his first foray into free agency in 2010, the four-time NBA MVP is taking a more subtle approach this time around. 

According to ESPN, James is unlikely to visit other teams or take an audience with suitors as he did in past free agent circuits. 

In fact, James might not even speak with top team officials before making a decision on his destination for next season. Instead of meeting with coaches and executives, James has been calling potential teammates directly, one NBA general manager told The Orange County Register.  

Speculation centers around contenders, including the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, but James shed no light on his plans in multiple interviews broaching the topic. 

After losing to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals for the third time in the last four years, James could be on the move again in search for a fourth NBA Title 

James's first foray into free agency ended with 'The Decision,' when he announced his intention to take his 'talents to South Beach' to a national television audience 

In 2010, James formed a super team in Miami with fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade (left) and Chris Bosh (center). The trio made four NBA Finals appearances together, winning two titles 

James faces a Friday deadline to opt out of the final year of his existing contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He could opt out and re-sign with Cleveland, although the strong current from national media is James appears ready to move again in his search for a fourth NBA Title. 

There's also a chance James could opt-in to the final year of his deal to accommodate a prearranged trade to a contender. Such a trade would help James's new team navigate the NBA's complicated salary cap while giving the Cavaliers some compensation for losing their franchise cornerstone.

Free agents can officially begin negotiating with prospective teams on Friday, July 1. Any signings or trades must wait until July 6. 

James's future is, predictably, the top story of the NBA's offseason.

Even at Thursday's NBA Draft in Brooklyn, a trio of private planes flew banners over the city in an ongoing effort to woo the international star to the Philadelphia 76ers. (From left to right, the banners featured James's number, 23, a 'plus' sign, a picture of the Liberty Bell, an 'equals' sign, and a picture of a goat — a reference to the anagram G.O.A.T., which stands for 'Greatest of All Time.') 

Fans flew banners rallying for LeBron James to join the Philadelphia 76ers, from left to right, James's number, 23, a 'plus' sign, a picture of the Liberty Bell, an 'equals' sign, and a picture of a goat — a reference to the anagram G.O.A.T., which stands for 'Greatest of All Time'

After winning a pair of titles in Miami, James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 after an in-person meeting with team owner Dan Gilbert. Their relationship is notoriously rocky 

In 2010, James bolted Cleveland in a nationally televised announcement 'The Decision' infamously declaring he was taking his 'talents to South Beach' and joining the Miami Heat. Before he joined the Heat, James had meetings with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers, where team representatives pitched the All-Star with personalized presentations and marketing plans.

After winning a pair of titles in Miami, James returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 after an in-person meeting with team owner Dan Gilbert. Their relationship was never a great one, but has splintered in recent years. 

James has played in the NBA Finals eight consecutive years.

ESPN reported the number of teams James and his representatives, Rich Paul and Mark Termini, could be interested in as free agents will be small.

Currently the Lakers look like an early front runner, although that's far from certain. 

Not only does James have a home in Los Angeles, but as retired NBA All-Star Gary Payton recently told Black Sports Online, James' 13-year-old son LeBron 'Bronny' James Jr. has already committed to a Los Angeles-area high school.

James' 13-year-old son LeBron 'Bronny' James Jr. has already committed to a Los Angeles-area high school, Sierra Canyon 

'His son just committed to Sierra Canyon, which is in the valley of L.A.,' said Payton, a Seattle SuperSonics legend who spent a year with the Lakers. 'That's where his son's gonna go to school, with [Chicago Bulls legend] Scottie Pippen's son and [former New Jersey Nets All-Star] Kenyon Martin's son.'

Sierra Canyon recently produced such NBA prospects as Duke's Marvin Bagley III, widely expected to be one of the top picks in this month's draft, so Bronny is in the right place if he hopes to follow in his father's footsteps, as many have speculated he will.

The Lakers, unlike the crosstown Los Angeles Clippers, will have salary cap space to potentially sign James and Oklahoma City All-Star Paul George, a California native, or a number of other elite free agents such as New Orleans Pelicans center DeMarcus Cousins. Even the Clippers' DeAndre Jordan could conceivably switch locker rooms at L.A.'s Staples Center to join a new Lakers super team.  

Of all the rumored potential destinations for the soon-to-be free agent, the Houston Rockets seemed to offer James the best chance at overcoming the reigning champion Golden State Warriors, who just defeated James' Cavs in the NBA Finals for the third time in four seasons.

Perennial All-Stars Chris Paul and James Harden turned Houston into the Western Conference's top seed in 2017-18, so there had been speculation that James could chase a title by signing with the Rockets, similarly to what he did in 2010 when he joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami before going on to win a pair of titles. 

Paul George could stay in Oklahoma City or return to his native L.A. to join James on the Lakers

Any teams trying to entice James would be wise to try and trade for two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard (left), who is reportedly unhappy in San Antonio. Free agent center DeMarcus Cousins (right) is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury in New Orleans, but could still draw interest from teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, who hope to sign James

But as columnist Marla Ridenour from James' hometown Akron Beacon Journal explained, the Rockets have an uphill battle to sign the future Hall of Famer.

'I heard this from [LeBron's] lips when we were in Houston this season: he does not like Houston as a city,' she told ESPN Radio.

Another obstacle for Houston would be fitting James under the salary cap. 

However, James and the Cavaliers could give the Rockets some flexibility on that front if an opt-in-and-trade could be worked out in which Cleveland gets players and other potential assets such as draft picks in return for accommodating James's exit. (After James agreed to sign in Miami in 2010, the Cavaliers agreed to a sign-and-trade deal that brought in several draft picks. The move helped the Heat fit both Bosh and James under the salary cap).

There is also a chance that Paul could team with his friend James with the Lakers.

The Lakers could also, conceivably, acquire two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard from the San Antonio Spurs. 

If the Lakers did somehow acquire Leonard - perhaps by offering prized youngsters Lonzo Ball (left), Brandon Ingram (right), and Kyle Kuzma - they could entice James to sign a maximum contract, worth upwards of $35 million per season when free agency begins in July

Leonard has been unhappy in San Antonio and is reportedly trying to force a deal to the Lakers — although an ESPN report on Friday claimed such a trade is unlikely at the moment.

If the Lakers did somehow acquire Leonard - perhaps by offering prized youngsters Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Kyle Kuzma - they could entice James to sign a maximum contract, worth upwards of $35 million per season when free agency begins in July.

If the Spurs' preference is to deal Leonard to the Eastern Conference, where they won't have to face him, the 76ers and Celtics would be the likeliest suitors.

The Cavaliers' chances of keeping James seemed to suffer during the draft, when they opted to use their lottery pick rather than trading the selection for veteran talent. 

The Cavaliers held the eighth-overall pick heading into the draft, by virtue of an off-season trade with the Boston Celtics.

Ultimately the Cavaliers drafted Alabama point guard Collin Sexton, which is not a promising sign for Cleveland fans who hoped the Akron native would return to win a second title with his home-state franchise.

Undeterred, Sexton did his best to convince James to stay in Cleveland.

'Man, LeBron, let's do it!' Sexton said in his press conference. 'Let's do it. I see you needed a few pieces - one or two pieces last season - and let's do it. Let's go back to the Finals. Let's do it!'

James's friend Chris Paul could be his teammate in either Houston or Los Angeles next year