​LeBron James defends Nikola Jokic during a Lakers-Nuggets matchup. The Nuggets remain linked to James in free agency, but NBA insider Marc Stein said Eastern Conference teams appear to have gained momentum in the race. GettyThe Denver Nuggets still may offer LeBron James one of the NBA’s most intriguing basketball partnerships.A growing number of league insiders, however, continue to suggest another part of the country has the edge.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementESPN NBA insider Anthony Slater reported Sunday on SportsCenter that the Golden State Warriors have privately viewed the Cleveland Cavaliers as James’ most likely destination throughout free agency, even while aggressively trying to recruit him themselves.“Their decision-makers really, from the beginning of this free agency,y have not expressed much optimism to me that they’re going to ultimately be the destination,” Slater said. “They know they’re in on it. They’ve identified from the beginning Cleveland as what they believe is the most likely destination.”For Denver, the report represents another discouraging development after veteran NBA insider Marc Stein recently reported that James is giving considerably more attention to Eastern Conference teams than many executives anticipated entering free agency.Slater’s reporting closely mirrors what Stein revealed Friday during Bleacher Report’s NBA Summer League livestream.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“What I do believe based on actual reporting is … Cleveland, Miami, Philly,” Stein said.“He is looking at Eastern Conference destinations with much more seriousness than I think… if you would’ve gone back even two weeks and polled the other 29 front offices.”Stein added that James appears increasingly willing to leave the Western Conference after spending the past eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.While those comments directly affected the Warriors, they also represented discouraging news for other Western Conference suitors, including Denver.Slater’s latest report only reinforces that perception.LeBron James contests a jump shot by Nikola Jokic during a Los Angeles Lakers game against the Denver Nuggets.Getty LeBron James defends Nikola Jokic during a Lakers-Nuggets matchup. The Nuggets remain linked to James in free agency, but NBA insider Marc Stein said Eastern Conference teams appear to have gained momentum in the race.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDespite the recent momentum surrounding Eastern Conference contenders, the Nuggets continue to possess one recruiting advantage few teams can match.Nikola Jokić.A partnership between James and the three-time NBA MVP has fascinated league observers for years because of their shared basketball IQ, elite passing ability and willingness to elevate teammates.ESPN’s Brian Windhorst previously described Denver as one of James’ most intriguing “outlier” destinations if basketball fit became the deciding factor.The Nuggets