Several media outlets are reporting Dwyane in addition to his agent are having a second meeting with the Bulls tonight.
Obviously I love this as a Bulls fan but how great would it be to have Wade within an hour or two of Marquette.
Jason Goff of the score is reporting that Wade had some assurances that Amare would be going to Miami but now that he is close to signing with New York he isn't too happy. He also wasn't happy when Pat Riley showed his rings to Lebron after years of crap down in Miami.
Right now Wade's Twitter says: Imma start a website called whatlittledotheyknow.com.
Who knows what's going on!
Also Goff is reporting Noah and Rose are both tradable.
I've heard that Wade is only talking to the bulls to take up their time and prevent them from spending more time pursuing lebron, bosh, boozer, etc. If they're talking to wade, they're not talking to them. I think it was Ric Bucher on ESPN that said it...take it for what it's worth.
Also possible however the Bulls aren't set to meet with Lebron until tomorrow. A meeting tonight doesn't really affect their Ohio trip.
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on July 02, 2010, 04:49:42 PM
I've heard that Wade is only talking to the bulls to take up their time and prevent them from spending more time pursuing lebron, bosh, boozer, etc. If they're talking to wade, they're not talking to them. I think it was Ric Bucher on ESPN that said it...take it for what it's worth.
Problem with this tactic is the agent would have to be doing this as well, and a smart agent wouldn't burn bridges for the Miami Heat.
Here's the latest...
Wade and Bosh had dinner in Chicago last night, and both talked to LeBron.
LBJ is not going to Miami, it's not happening.
As I mentioned previously, Wade contacted the Bulls just after free agency started Weds night, and asked to meet with the Bulls. My Bulls guys said it was originally just going to be a token "let's cover our bases and see what happens" meeting.
Meeting went real well with Wade, but Bulls were more focused on Bosh (who they spoke to first on Weds night).
Bosh met with the Bulls today, meeting went very well.
Wade met with the Knicks in Chicago today, and sometime shortly after that meeting, Henry Thomas called Gar and asked to meet asap tonight with Wade and Bosh presence. That meeting wrapped up about an hour ago.
My guys aren't high enough in the front office to know what happened yet at that meeting tonight, but the belief is that both Wade and Bosh are going to agree to sign with the Bulls, and that LBJ will sign too.
My guys are absolutely stunned right now. Situation is still very fluid, the sign and trade with Toronto is the complicating factor. Curent offer to Toronto is Deng, James Johnson and 2 #1's for Bosh.
Take this for what it's worth, but this is what I'm hearing as of right now.
Update: Bulls asked Wade to commit, and would have had him on flight to Akron tomorrow to recruit LBJ. Wade was not prepared to commit at this time and is going to talk to Heat one more time.
There's a rumor out there that the reason Wade is hot to trot to Chicago is because of his pending divorce litigation and custody battle, FWIW.
I heard it reported elsewhere, so I can divulge as well that the guest speaker the Bulls are preparing to have speak to LBJ tomorrow is Obama. Originally Bulls asked White House if Obama would go to Ohio on Saturday, but instead it will be via phone call if it happens.
I'm not sure if I understood correctly TallTitan, are you saying all three want to sign with the Bulls?
Good stuff Dish! Thanks!
FWIW, Bosh just left United Center (Wade left just after 7pm), Bosh met with Bulls for a solid hour and a half longer than they did with Wade.
Report is Bulls were on phone with Colangelo (Bryan) trying to come up with a sign/trade offer that worked for all. Toronto was not happy with compensation Bulls were offering, Bulls trying to bring a third team in (believed to be Clippers). Deal would be Deng to LA, Hedo to LA, Toronto gets Taj Gibson, Bulls #1, Clip #1, Bulls get Bosh and 2nd round pick from Toronto or LA.
Issue is it's too complicated of a deal to get done this evening. Bulls wanted Wade and/or Bosh to go to Cleveland with them tomorrow. Not happening from what I hear.
Any new news following the Lebron meeting from your source Dish?
After extensive talks with Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade has made no secret of the fact that he is due for some serious decision-making.
As has been well discussed, the decision is rich with basketball analysis -- would Wade be closer to a title in Miami or Chicago?
Yet there is a family reason for Wade to consider Illinois, beyond the fact that he is famously from the Chicago area.
The more immediate concern is access to his children.
Wade's divorce from Siohvaughn Wade was recently finalized (although an appeal is possible). The judge has awarded Wade full custody of his two sons -- for now.
A major aspect of the Wades' separation was a nasty and ongoing legal tussle over custody. Siohvaughn has been chastised by the judge for denying the player proper access to his children; as a result Wade was given temporary full custody a month ago.
However, the long-term custody arrangements have yet to be determined. A trial on that issue has been scheduled to begin in Chicago on July 19.
Should the judge decide that the NBA star is to share custody with his Illinois-based ex-wife, living nearby would give Wade far more flexibility in scheduling time with his children.
No real ground breaking news that I'm hearing. Obama phone call didn't happen, but I do know Bulls played the Wade card in their meeting.
Where things stand right now...
-LBJ does not want to go to Miami
-Bosh does not want to go to Cleveland, nor does Wade
Other issue is Toronto is really ticked at Bosh right now, and Bosh hasn't said a word to the Raptors directly since free agency started. Raptors are in a bind, they feel they need to get something back for Bosh, but they will not bend over backwards to accomodate him, and make a deal just to make a deal.
I do know Wade's divorce and custody appeal battle are big players in this. Wade is really torn from what it sounds like.
Bosh is sitting in the middle of all this, he's made zero indication of what he wants, basically what he wants is to go to either Miami or Chicago.
Joe Johnson called the Bulls late yesterday, and now he wants to meet with the Bulls. Issue is Bulls don't want to give him max $$$. I'd be shocked if he doesn't stay with Atlanta.
Amare got offered max money by the Knicks today, Suns weren't for a second going to offer him max money, he'll be a Knick.
MUDish-- Thanks for all the info. Please post as much as possible and as often as possible. This is so exciting for us Bulls fans out here.
Can't wait to see what happens, but know that the Bull have promise without making any really earth shattering moves. Hopefully the fact that the Bulls are good any way will sway some guys.
Would love to see a nice run where the Bulls win 3 out of the next 5 titles with some league changing signings.
even after clearing Hinrich off the roster aren't the Bulls about $35+ million under the cap? Which is enough for two max contracts.
They're no where close to being able to offer three max contracts (without a sign-and-trade). If three guys split the money they each will be leaving $55-60 million guaranteed on the table from their previous teams.
Currently only Miami is close to being able to offer three max deals.
Bulls advantage is Rose and Noah. I think it is almost impossible for Bulls to keep Rose and Noah and add all 3. Unless they agree to a small paycut each. Doubt that is a possibility at all, but they could challenge the Bulls 72 wins with those 5.
Realistically, Bulls best case is probably Bosh and then either Lebron or Wade. This is only speaking at a fan with absolutely no info.
Quote from: oldwarrior81 on July 04, 2010, 04:18:14 PM
even after clearing Hinrich off the roster aren't the Bulls about $35+ million under the cap? Which is enough for two max contracts.
They're no where close to being able to offer three max contracts (without a sign-and-trade). If three guys split the money they each will be leaving $55-60 million guaranteed on the table from their previous teams.
Currently only Miami is close to being able to offer three max deals.
This is why they would sign and trade for bosh, though technically they could do it for any one of the three. Trading deng and james johnson for one of the three would allow the Bulls to get an extra guy at the max.
Quote from: herboturbo on July 04, 2010, 08:13:05 PM
This is why they would sign and trade for bosh, though technically they could do it for any one of the three. Trading deng and james johnson for one of the three would allow the Bulls to get an extra guy at the max.
This is correct, Bosh's salary would be able to be added because it would replace Deng and Gibson/Johnson. Little to no chance Cavs or Heat would do sign/trade.
Is Toronto's recent position of no interest just posturing? Are they trying to get Noah thrown in there? Can the Bulls wait it out and give them Deng and 3 picks? Why would Toronto not want at least something, no matter how slighted they feel by Bosh.
The way this is currently going, I see wade staying in Miami and ending up with Boozer.
That absolutely will not get the job done in Miami! Disappointing scenario.
The other day on Twitter, someone (JA Adande, maybe?) was linking to an article talking about how it's possible that Wade's kids might be the deciding factor in him signing with the Bulls, and it dug up a couple of quotes from Wade from the last few months where he was talking about family, etc.
The idea was that this column was a huge revelation in figuring out where he will go. It struck me as something I (and probably most of you) had realized 18 months ago.
MUDish, anything new going on?
From what I'm told, as of right now, all the important players have basically shut off contact with front offices. No one has any inclination of what is going to happen any more.
There was a window Friday where Bulls people honestly thought they had Wade/Bosh in the fold. Once both left town without a commitment, there was no inclination of where things were going. Henry Thomas has not spoken to the Bulls since.
It looks like the idea and appeal to Bosh/LBJ/Wade of playing together will not win out over their individual interests (gut feeling). As fluid as this situation is, guess at this point is LBJ re-signs with Cleveland, Wade re-signs with Heat. Bosh either goes to Miami or Houston (via sign/trade). Bulls look to sign Carlos Boozer (who has always wanted to play in Chicago).
Rumor has been LeBron will announce via his new website tomorrow night where he is going to go.
Newest rumor, Bosh to the Cavs, in a sign/trade...If Bosh learned anything in the basket weaving and golf classes he took in his one semester at GT...take the money son!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5357607
I actually think if Bosh ends up in Cleveland Miami, it would motivate Wade to go to Chicago seeing as Miami would have failed yet again to give D-Wade help.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on July 06, 2010, 11:14:48 AM
I actually think if Bosh ends up in Miami, it would motivate Wade to go to Chicago seeing as Miami would have failed yet again to give D-Wade help.
Sure you mean Cleveland
Quote from: reinko on July 06, 2010, 10:49:19 AM
Newest rumor, Bosh to the Cavs, in a sign/trade...If Bosh learned anything in the basket weaving and golf classes he took in his one semester at GT...take the money son!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5357607
If Boozer is not a max guy, the Bulls should sign Boozer and Wade if thi Bosh thing happens. Wade is not winning a thing in Miami, so he might as well play with an All-Star PG and an All-star PF in Boozer. The Bulls could actually keep their core intact with Deng at the 3 and Noah at the 5. Taj Gibson off the bench and they still have James Johnson developing. If they can use their midlevel on Brad Miller, then they have a pretty strong front line and this team could beat anyone.
LBJ is gonna take the money in Cleveland. Ditto for Wade in Miami, where he will be joined by Bosh. It sure looks as if neither Wade or LBJ are willing to make the first move to go to another team, which says to me they will each end up back to their respective teams where they can pick up the biggest checks. The one rumor that seems to have remained relatively consistent is Bosh and Wade going wherever they go together.
All of that said, I also think its possible that NY and NJ are perhaps being underestimated somewhat.
All sides are looking like they are posturing to try to get as much cash as possible. Should be interesting how it all turns out.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on July 06, 2010, 11:24:02 AM
LBJ is gonna take the money in Cleveland. Ditto for Wade in Miami, where he will be joined by Bosh. It sure looks as if neither Wade or LBJ are willing to make the first move to go to another team, which says to me they will each end up back to their respective teams where they can pick up the biggest checks. The one rumor that seems to have remained relatively consistent is Bosh and Wade going wherever they go together.
All of that said, I also think its possible that NY and NJ are perhaps being underestimated somewhat.
From what I hear, LBJ is torn about whether to come to Chicago or stay home in Cleveland. He's not going to anywhere else, it's either Chicago or Cleveland.
World Wide Wes (for some reason) is out of the picture. Wes was pushing LBJ hard towards the Bulls.
As I mentioned earlier, the thought of these guys playing together was more "romantic" than anything else, and in the end, it appears their individual interests will win out. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, who can blame them for not leaving money on the table. It's the sixth year of the contract that is the key sticking point that these guys will lose out on if they don't re-up with their old teams. In the first four/five years, the salary difference between staying/going is minimial (less than a million approx). It's the sixth year guaranteed at $25 million (approx) that is the kicker.
LBJ is torn because winning in Chicago (or New York) would trump the additional $25-$30 mil he could make in Cleveland. On a global scale, Kobe by far (not even close) is a bigger star than LBJ. World Wide Wes knows this, LBJ knows it, and hence why he is still torn. From people in the know, when all is said and done, he appears to be leaning towars staying home.
Quote from: MUDish on July 06, 2010, 12:29:37 PM
From what I hear, LBJ is torn about whether to come to Chicago or stay home in Cleveland. He's not going to anywhere else, it's either Chicago or Cleveland.
World Wide Wes (for some reason) is out of the picture. Wes was pushing LBJ hard towards the Bulls.
As I mentioned earlier, the thought of these guys playing together was more "romantic" than anything else, and in the end, it appears their individual interests will win out. Absolutely nothing wrong with that, who can blame them for not leaving money on the table. It's the sixth year of the contract that is the key sticking point that these guys will lose out on if they don't re-up with their old teams. In the first four/five years, the salary difference between staying/going is minimial (less than a million approx). It's the sixth year guaranteed at $25 million (approx) that is the kicker.
LBJ is torn because winning in Chicago (or New York) would trump the additional $25-$30 mil he could make in Cleveland. On a global scale, Kobe by far (not even close) is a bigger star than LBJ. World Wide Wes knows this, LBJ knows it, and hence why he is still torn. From people in the know, when all is said and done, he appears to be leaning towars staying home.
Any word on Wade?
Quick hitter by an esquire writer. Note he did write this on the first of July.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two Reasons LeBron Can't Leave Cleveland
Turn off ESPN. Fold the newspaper. Ignore talk radio. Until LeBron James signs somewhere, all of the experts are going to blather on that they "know" where LeBron James is going. Save your time. Read this instead.
By Scott Raab
July 1, 2010
Free agency, NBA-style, is upon us. Even as you read this, wise men troop to Akron to offer gifts to the King of Kings; tribes and regions tremble as his supple, sinewy thumb, the thumb by now of Fate, readies to point.
At this point, everyone in the media makes like they know everything. They know who is friends with whom among the big-name free agents, where and when they spoke and what they spoke about, and who would settle for less than a max deal to team up with which good buddy. And all of it is bullshit — every word of it — a fecal stew of clumsy spin, self-serving front-office leakage, and desperate fabrication. LeBron James isn't going anywhere.
Book it: James will receive his suitors, hear them out, and sign another three-year deal with the Cavaliers.
What do I know that all the other pundits don't?
No. 1: I know Gloria James, the Unholy Mother. I know her dire backstory. I know that her son is more mature than she is and how much support and protection her son — and the Cavaliers — provide for her. This is a prior existing condition, a de facto factor that can't be exploited by any other team in the course of their pitches to LeBron — he wouldn't stand for that subject to be addressed, nor would he raise it. And he knows that no other media market in the country would enable him to maintain a shield of silence around her.
No. 2: I know Dan Gilbert. Smart, hard as nails, and fearless. He isn't one more GM or coach blowing sunshine up the Global Icon's ass; Gilbert owns the Cavs. Never has he broken trust with James, nor has he ever refused to overspend when the buy brought Cleveland closer to a crown. That won't change — if there's any way to pry Chris Bosh, say, from Toronto in a sign-and-trade deal, Gilbert's going to do it. He'll say so to LeBron, and after seven years spent with Gilbert, James will know that it's true — and that no other owner in the league would be so good a partner.
http://www.esquire.com/the-side/lebron-james/staying-in-cleveland-070110
Quote from: Lennys Tap on July 06, 2010, 11:16:25 AM
Sure you mean Cleveland
Sorry yeah I meant Bosh in Cleveland.
Quote from: TallTitan34 on July 06, 2010, 11:14:48 AM
I actually think if Bosh ends up in Cleveland Miami, it would motivate Wade to go to Chicago seeing as Miami would have failed yet again to give D-Wade help.
Word on Wade is it's either Miami or Chicago, leaning towards Miami.
If the Bulls had flexibility to do a sign/trade for both Bosh and Wade, both would be Bulls. This is realistically Wade's last big pay day. For the amount of bumps he's taken, this is probably his last chance at a max deal like this (even though he'll probably have a 3 yr opt clause in his new deal). It's tough to see him and Bosh leaving any money on the table, no matter how much they all want to play together.
LBJ would be the only player who could go somewhere and not care about the sign/trade and the 6th year. If LBJ is going to sign, he'll have a 3 yr opt out as well, and 2013 will be another go around. If I had to look into the future, in 2013, LBJ will sign elsewhere after 3 more years of not winning a title in Cleveland. Chris Paul and LBJ will be on the Nets together in 2013 (my prediction).
The Bulls should do what they have to do to get one of the MVP level candidates (James/Wade). The Bulls seem to be in the top 2 of Bosh, Wade, and James which means they really need to get agressive to land one.
Would Pat Riley under any circumstances take a sign and trade for Wade? Could it be done without losing Rose?
Would Bulls be better off being a little proactive by just signing Boozer for less than max? Would that push Bosh's hand to just sign with Miami and defeat the purpose? Would James or Wade sign for a Bulls team with Boozer?
Would the sign and trade with Toronto force Wade's hand into coming up to Chicago? Or would Wade consider going back to Miami at max money with Boozer or Lee? I don't think Wade signs with NY/NJ with all the family comments he has made. Would it bother Wade that Bosh for the 6th year and he doesn't?
Can't wait for this to be over... I am still optimistic.