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The Cavaliers are coming off a trip to the Eastern Conference finals and would offer James the chance to finish his career where it all started.

Robinson also reported that if James returns to Cleveland, assistant general manager Brandon Weems is expected to be elevated to general manager. Weems and James have been close friends since their days together at St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Sixers remain intriguing

The 76ers remain one of the teams most closely linked to James.

Robinson reported that James’ longtime relationship with new president of basketball operations Mike Gansey is viewed as a significant factor. The two have known each other since their high school days in Ohio.

But Philadelphia’s roster may not be a perfect fit.

According to Robinson, there are legitimate questions behind the scenes about pairing James with Joel Embiid. Health, style of play and long-term roster construction are all believed to be part of those discussions.

If that’s accurate, the Sixers may have difficult decisions ahead if they hope to land James.

Heat refuse to go away

The Heat remain one of the teams mentioned most frequently throughout the process.

Miami offers championship credibility, Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra, and has consistently been linked to James since free agency opened.

While there hasn’t been much public movement, league observers continue to place the Heat firmly among the leading contenders.

Warriors still in hunt?

The Warriors haven’t stopped recruiting.

Draymond Green recently acknowledged that he spent time trying to convince James to join Golden State while the two were together over the past week.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to throw my pitch in there,” Green said on his podcast.

Andre Iguodala has also publicly said he’d love to see James and Stephen Curry finish their careers together.

Whether Golden State is truly a serious contender remains difficult to gauge, but it clearly hasn’t given up.

Other national voices hearing similar

Several of the NBA’s most plugged-in reporters continue pointing in the same direction.

During a Bleacher Report livestream with Jake Fischer, NBA insider Marc Stein said Cleveland, Miami and Philadelphia are the teams James appears to be monitoring most closely.

ESPN’s Shams Charania has likewise reported that while the Warriors and Timberwolves remain involved, rival executives continue viewing the Cavaliers, Heat and 76ers as the strongest contenders.

Even Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has hinted that Cleveland believes something special could be brewing.

“You guys know there’s a little free agency thing going on right now,” Atkinson said at Summer League. “That could be our real jump.”

He added during another interview: “We’re in the mix for the greatest player of all time.”

So where does it stand?

No one appears willing to say a decision has been made.

But nearly every significant report over the past several days has pointed in the same direction.

The Cavaliers remain the team most often connected to James. The Heat and 76ers continue to be mentioned prominently in reports surrounding James’ free agency. And while Golden State hasn’t stopped recruiting, most of the momentum now appears centered in the Eastern Conference.

That is, assuming there’s any momentum at all.

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