Dwyane Wade(notes) will meet privately with Chicago Bulls officials for a second time in two days on Friday and is seriously contemplating leaving the Miami Heat to join his hometown team, a league source told Yahoo! Sports. This could be a significant step in Wade helping to create a blockbuster partnership with LeBron James(notes) on the Bulls. Wade and James have been discussing the possibility of playing together, but the major hurdle to the starry alliance remains James’ reluctance to join Wade in Miami, sources say. “D-Wade and LeBron want to play together, but neither one wants to commit to each other,” a source with knowledge of the conversations told Yahoo! Sports on Friday. Sources say that Wade is intrigued by the infrastructure of talent the Bulls have to surround him, especially in contrast to how gutted the Heat roster has become in the clearing of salary cap space. The Bulls are trying to line up a commitment from Wade prior to their formal presentation with James in Cleveland on Saturday, sources said. Chicago has a strong nucleus of young players, including Derrick Rose(notes) and Joakim Noah(notes), who with Wade and James would instantly turn the Bulls into a championship contender. Without Wade leaving Miami to join James elsewhere, league sources believe that the two players are most likely to re-sign with their respective teams, Miami and Cleveland. Still, Wade and free agent forward Chris Bosh(notes) are closely connected and even without James, Wade is considering a Chicago partnership with Bosh. With 29.9 million in cap space, Chicago could give two different players a five year, $87.6 million contract. Sources say that Chicago has a proposed trade of Luol Deng(notes) looming for what’s described as a “serviceable center,” that could help to clear more space. The Bulls could also ship young forward James Johnson(notes) to get more room. The Bulls must make a strong case to James on Saturday to get him to take what would be $30 million less than the Cavaliers could offer. Sources say one team that all but eliminated itself with James in the presentation process was the New York Knicks. James’ inner-circle has described New York’s presentation as lacking preparedness and organization. James’ camp also found it to be redundant to much of the New Jersey Nets’ far sharper, edgier presentation on James’ earning power. James hasn’t been convinced that he can overcome the $30 million difference between possible Cleveland and New York offers through endorsements and other streams of revenue. However, Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov’s vision of bulking up James’ international portfolio did resonate with him, and the Nets vision of using Brooklyn and the owner’s international muscle does appeal to him. Sources say that James is dubious his mere presence on the Knicks will be worth that much more to him in endorsements. The appearance of Knicks GM Donnie Walsh in a wheelchair due to a neck problem and the frumpy, unimpressive Jim Dolan didn’t provide James with an image of vibrancy. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-wadelebronbulls072010
wojo on score just now: LeBron still thinking about playing with Wade. Wade is questioning playing with Miami. Doesn't think Heat have good complimentary players. Thinks Bulls have a better core.
Ok, I think James is behind all of this. Both guys, Wade and James appear to want to play together, but in a bigger market than Miami. Both can make more playing in Chicago. We also have Rose and Noah and that doesnt hurt.
I can't see Rose - Wade - James being very successful, honestly. I think Wade - Bosh or Boozer would be a much better fit for Wade.
Ford Confirms second meeting to take place and addedL Source believes Wade is leaning toward joining Bulls http://twitter.com/chadfordinsider
tbf, Sorry, dude, but neither one can make more money playing in Chicago. Illinois has a 3% income tax, Miami has 0% - that's just a start. If both sign with their own clubs, they can make $30M more than if they sign anywhere else.
KC adds: In a surprise development, Dwyane Wade met with the Bulls on Friday for the second time in two days, sources said. The meeting took place at the downtown office of Wade's Chicago-based agent, Henry Thomas at 5 p.m. Two hours later, the Bulls were to meet with Chris Bosh at the United Center. Both are represented by Thomas. Wade met with the Bulls for close to two hours at the United Center Thursday morning, the first full day of free agency, in a meeting first reported by the Tribune. The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel first reported the second meeting with the Bulls. Wade also met with the Knicks on Friday morning in Chicago. Sources said the Bulls contacted Wade's camp again early Friday morning and Wade agreed to a second meeting. "He was very impressed by the first meeting," one source said. "He's really taking free agency seriously." All this is in advance of the Bulls' Saturday meeting with LeBron James in Ohio. Yahoo! Sports reported that James and Wade have discussed playing together, but that James has expressed reservations about joining Wade in Miami. One source said the Bulls are hoping to convince Wade they can sign one of the premier power forwards to add to a core already featuring Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. The Tribune also reported a long-shot, dream scenario early Friday wherein the Bulls engineer a sign-and-trade for one maximum free agent, thus preserving their nearly $30 million in salary-cap space for two other significant free agents, which could even include James. If the Bulls can't convince Bosh to come on board to fill their power-forward need, sources said the Bulls' Thursday sit-down with Carlos Boozer were "very promising." The Sun-Sentinel quoted Heat president Pat Riley about Wade's second meeting with the Bulls. "We feel very strongly about our commitment to Dwyane and our fans," Riley said. http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/07/wade-bulls-meeting-again.html
What is better? For Wade -- Wade - Bron? Wade - Bosh? Wade - Boozer? For LeBron-- Bron - Wade? Bron - Bosh? Bron - Boozer?
You guys really think so. Jordan and Pippen certainly seemed to work out well. There would be a huge, huge marketing tie in there. I think either team has a good chance at winning a championship. But I wonder if the teams would be better and they would get to be the man more if it was a little man pairing with a big man. If all come to Chicago, all fucking bets are off.
Either James and Wade want to play together or Wade wants to jump in before we even talk to James! Maybe Wade figures Riley has failed already? But damn, its just the second day of free agency. I dont know.
