Wade to Have Second Meeting With Bulls

[Lennys Tap]

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

[HoopsMalone]

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.

[NavinRJohnson]

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.

[reinko]

Sure you mean Cleveland

Or he means Boozer in Miami

[HoopsMalone]

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. 

[Dish]

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.

[HoopsMalone]

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?

[reinko]

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

[TallTitan34]

Sure you mean Cleveland

Sorry yeah I meant Bosh in Cleveland.

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.

[Dish]

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).

[HoopsMalone]

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.