How Is This Going To Work?

If you don't know by now that Chris Bosh and LeBron James have joined Dwyane Wade in Miami then you seriously need to get out more. Everyone is talking about how unstoppable the Heat will be but I have some big concerns about how that will work.

First off let me say that they're going to be unbelievable to START the season.

Everyone is going to jump on the Heat wave (yeah I said it) in the preseason and in the first month or two of the regular season. In that stretch of time we're going to see some of the best team basketball we've seen since the 80's Celtics and Lakers. However slowly but surely we might start to see a change, the triumvirate of James, Bosh, and Wade could slowly come unglued. Once they all see exactly how much they're going to need to sacrifice is when the real test is going to begin.

Is LeBron happy dropping his career scoring stats to a point that they'll never recover? How about for Wade?

Is Wade happy dealing with LeBron possibly stealing his favoritism in Miami?

Is Bosh ok with completely losing his popularity in the shadow of Wade and LeBron?

Who is the leader of this team? To me it seems that Wade would be the logical choice since he has proven himself on the game's biggest stage. Is LeBron going to be cool with not being "the man"?

How is the publicity of these three players going to effect the rest of the team?

Are Wade and LeBron ok with having no hope in the MVP race as long as their on the same roster?

What happens if they lose 3 or 4 in a row?

And here's the classic question, with the game on the line, who gets the ball? If I'm the coach the ball goes to Wade every time. It's no secret that James' ego is big enough to cover the circumference of the world, is he going to be content as a role player and not as the star who takes the big shots?

To me this all comes down to LeBron James and his ability to put his ego aside. According to the people at USA basketball that's going to be a tough one.

When the Redeem Team went to Beijing in 2008 the players were told to, "check their egos at the door." They were told to learn the names of not just the entire coaching staff, but the trainers, the ball boys, the bus drivers, and anyone else involved in the program. According to several sources no one had as much trouble with this as LeBron. One of the sources went on to say that dropping LeBron altogether was a serious possibility because he was such a chemistry issue.

If LeBron can't play as a role player for 8 games then how is he supposed to do it for 82?

These are all questions that will be answered at some point but everyone needs to think about these before proclaiming the Heat the NBA's next dynasty.

I will say this, if LeBron plays within himself and within the offensive system, the Miami Heat will be unstoppable. It all lies on LeBron's ego.

This Is How It Looks Right Now

Free agency has been crazier than anyone ever expected. Right now this is how things seem. Wade and Bosh to Chicago or Miami, LeBron's probably staying in Cleveland, Boozer to Chicago if no Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire to the Knicks, and contrary to my last report Joe Johnson is still in play.

Up until Friday nobody thought there was even a chance that Dwyane Wade was leaving Miami, not a chance in hell. But after Wade met for the second time in two days with the Chicago Bulls people's eyes were opened. Now it seems that Wade is actually favoring the Bulls over the Miami Heat, the only organization he's ever known. In a video from TMZ Wade is seen with his agent and Chris Bosh outside a Chicago restaurant. Wade's asked a question on how he would help the Chicago Bulls, he doesn't answer the question, but he does give a suggestive smile to the camera. To support the theory of Wade going to the Bulls, a recent twitter update was made by Jason Goff bodes well for the Bulls to say the least, "Sources are telling me Wade-Bosh package imminent in Chicago." Goff is a radio show host in Chicago and many suspect that his sources are deep rooted in the Bulls' organization. Chris Bosh, obviously based on the quote, is also heavily rumored to the Bulls. The general thought is that Wade and Bosh are going together to either the Bulls or the Heat. As a Bulls fan I'm trying to be as unbiased as possible when I say that going to Chicago makes much more sense for both players. For Wade, Chicago features family ties, a chance to have a good relationship with his two sons, a realistic chance to win a championship, and a chance to play for his hometown team. By staying in Miami Wade proves his loyalty and gets to rot with Michael Beasley for the next 6 years. Even if Bosh goes with him to Miami I still think they're not the favorites to win the East next year because the rest of the roster would be full of the Anthony Roberson's of the world. Do you even know who he is? I highly doubt it.

According to several sources, Carlos Boozer is on board if the Bulls want him. Logically thinking, the Bulls are probably waiting to see what happens with Chris Bosh before committing to Boozer. That makes the most sense. If they do miss out on Bosh, Wade, and LeBron, Boozer isn't a bad consolation prize. Especially because he'd likely be joined by Joe Johnson who's refrained from committing to the Hawks because he's still interested in the Bulls and Knicks.

The Knicks are reportedly closing in on a five year deal with Amar'e Stoudemire but in my opinion that has absolutely no effect on anything in free agency or in the East next season. With Stoudemire the Knicks are probably playoff bound but still don't have a legitimate shot at the Eastern Conference crown.

It seems like no matter how these scenarios play out we're headed for a Bulls vs. Heat Eastern Conference Finals next season.

As of right now the water is still, but the big splashes could come any minute.

LeBron And Bosh To Chicago A "Done Deal"

The whispers of LeBron James and Chris Bosh going to Chicago have been getting louder and louder over the past month and now there's been a major advancement in the free agency saga. An unidentified NBA executive said he believes that LeBron James going to the Chicago Bulls is all but official. He also added that there's a great chance Chris Bosh will be going with him.

"I think it's a done deal," the executive claimed.

About three weeks ago World Wide Wes, the owner of LeBron James' agency, came out with his comments.

"We're going to Chicago and Bosh is coming too".

Obviously if Chris Bosh and LeBron James go to Chicago to team up with all star point guard Derrick Rose we're looking at a top contender for the Larry O'Brien Trophy next season. I would take it a step further. If this trio does in fact formulate I think we're looking at the NBA's next great dynasty. The only concern for next season would be the bench because the Bulls have traded basically all of their assets in order to clear up cap space for this summer.

The starting lineup would look like this:

PG-Derrick Rose (All Star)

SG-?????????? (Possibly Luol Deng, though I doubt it)

SF-LeBron James (All Star)

PF-Chris Bosh (All Star)

C-Joakim Noah (All Star Caliber)

Bench

Taj Gibson

Luol Deng

Brad Miller (If he re-signs)

NOBODY ELSE

That's the glaring weakness of this potential team. However my guess is that if the big three of Rose-James-Bosh does in fact develop then players are going to come out of the woodwork to come off the bench for that team. When Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce in Boston in the summer of 2007 James Posey and Eddie House volunteered to go there. The Celtics didn't have to go get them, I think it would be a similar case with the Bulls.

According to multiple sources this Bulls fan fantasy is about to become a reality.

It's Finally Here

Free Agency 2o1o has been the topic of many NBA conversations for two full seasons. A free agency period that features LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, David Lee, Carlos Boozer, and Dirk Nowitzki promises to be the biggest splash, or the biggest letdown in free agent history.

For the biggest name of the summer, LeBron James, the winds are blowing towards Chicago. Every move made this offseason is based off where James will end up. The only teams that are rumored to have a legitimate shot at the two time reigning MVP are the Bulls, Knicks (though many doubt that, including me), and the Heat.

For James the appeal of Chicago is obvious. Play in Michael Jordan's city, play in Michael's house, play for one of the most storied franchises in league history, and get his big market team which so many seem to put an emphasis on. It has been widely speculated that James is scared to play in Jordan's shadow in fear that he will be engulfed and lost in the depths of history. However word from LeBron's camp claims that he would be excited to try and create his own legacy. The only possible deal-breaker with the Bulls is that LeBron will not be able to do what he wants or be a player-coach-GM like he is in Cleveland. Let's be honest, Mike Brown was in the suit but LeBron was running that team. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that LeBron made Brown fetch him Gatorade during practice. In Chicago LeBron would be strictly a player and he would be treated as such. That's the best thing for him, it just depends on how big his ego is.

Going to Miami would unite him with the Eastern Conference's other main superstar Dwyane Wade. To me this is more of a fairy tale scenario and the least likely outcome. Is LeBron really willing to share his stardom with another megastar who is arguably better than him in many regards? I highly doubt it. In Chicago he would be playing alongside Derrick Rose who's unselfish nature would help the relationship. In New York LeBron would be nothing short of Jesus Christ Himself, in popularity at least.

Staying in Cleveland would certainly increase my respect for him but I really think Chicago is sitting pretty in the LeBron James sweepstakes.

Once LeBron is off the market all eyes will be on Wade, assuming that LeBron doesn't go to Miami. Wade is also rumored to Chicago. This next piece of evidence is the most interesting. Someone in Air Jordan's shoe division leaked what Wade's next shoe will be, and it bodes well for the Bulls. The shoe's name is "W3lcome Home" and it has Bulls colors. To the surprise of no one, the rumor mill was spinning fast once this information dropped. The other reason to believe Wade-to-Chicago is a possibility is because last summer he sold his house in Miami and bought another one in Chicago. He already has a house for his mother. Why get another one?

Despite the rumors of what his new shoe foreshadows, there is plenty of evidence to support the theory that Wade is headed back to Miami. "Do I want to leave? Nope. Mmm-hmm. I want to be in Miami." That pretty much defines where his heart is. Clearly he's only going to leave Miami if the front office, otherwise known as Pat Riley, disappoints him again. At the end of the day I think Wade is going to stay in Miami.

Chris Bosh, I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, is also heavily rumored to the Bulls. The dream off-season for the Bulls is landing LeBron James through a routine signing, then pulling off a sign and trade for Bosh. That trade would send Luol Deng and his mammoth of a contract to Toronto which clears up the salary cap space to have both Bosh and LeBron. If he doesn't go to the Bulls there are four other locations that Bosh has indicated interest in. They are New York, Los Angeles, Miami, or going back to Toronto which I just can't see happening. After Chicago, I think Miami is calling his name. The opportunity to play with Wade is something that he just can't pass up, if he does then winning is clearly not his top priority. He and Wade would fit well based on their styles of play and I really can't think of any reason why it couldn't work.

Joe Johnson's stock fell drastically this season. He suffers from something I like to call the Ben Gordon syndrome. That is when a player massively overrates his value and rejects an extension only to be forced to sign a worse deal the following offseason. It happens all of the time and Johnson is the latest case of the illness. My guess is that he ends up in New York because that's what happens to the Knicks. They get good players on the decline of their careers, get nothing out of them and go nowhere. Do Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, or Penny Hardaway ring a bell? Next in that line of disaster stories is Joe Johnson.

Some people were surprised when Dirk Nowitzki decided to opt out of his last year with the Mavs and test the free agency market. This one is easy to predict, there is no way in hell Mark Cuban lets Dirk leave Dallas. He's the best player in franchise history and his number is destined for the rafters. In situations like that the player usually stays with the franchise and sometimes it works out (Paul Pierce).

Carlos Boozer's free agency stock raised big time this season. Everyone knows he can play but the issue was always his durability. Boozer played in 95% of the games this season which means more dollar signs for the 28 year old, double double machine. Like Bosh, Boozer has an equal chance of landing in Miami. Last summer Boozer turned some Utah fans against him when he characterized Miami as his, "paradise." There is little doubt that if he's given the chance he will end up with the Heat. If he does end up in Miami, it's safe to say the Heat missed out on Bosh and Amar'e Stoudemire. Boozer is third in line behind those two.

After the all star break Amar'e Stoudemire played better than any big man in the league and guaranteed himself a pretty nice contract this summer. I don't think he'll get a max deal unless he goes to the Knicks because no good team is going to pay that type of money for that many years on a guy they can't depend on. Stoudemire is yet another big man rumored to Miami. It seems that no matter what happens the Heat are going to be getting a great big man.

David Lee is by far the most uninteresting and least talented major free agent this summer. It's not a knock on him, it just speaks to how strong this free agent class is. My guess is that he's going to stay in New York. Lee is a talented big man but he's nowhere near good enough to make any demands at this stage in his career. If he's smart he will try to go somewhere with a future, namely anywhere other than New York or New Jersey.

Finally, this is how I see the probabilities of each player.

LeBron James: Chicago Bulls 45%, Cleveland Cavaliers 25%, Miami Heat 15%, New York Knicks 15%

Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat 85%, Chicago Bulls 15%

Chris Bosh: Chicago Bulls 37%, Miami Heat 36%, New York Knicks 14%, Toronto Raptors 13%

Joe Johnson: New York Knicks 30%, Atlanta Hawks 24%, Chicago Bulls 23%, Miami Heat 23%

Carlos Boozer: Miami Heat 50%, Utah Jazz 25%, Chicago Bulls 20%, New York Knicks 5%

Dirk Nowitzki: Dallas Mavericks 100%

Amar'e Stoudemire: Phoenix Suns 47% , Miami Heat 33%, Chicago Bulls 20%

David Lee: New York Knicks 80%, Dallas Mavericks 12% , Chicago Bulls 8%

Chris Bosh Free Agency Update

According to a recent report by the Chicago Tribune, Chris Bosh is going to try to follow LeBron James wherever he goes. As reported by his agent, Chris Bosh's five team wish list consists of the Lakers, Bulls, Knicks, Heat, and Raptors. Sense LeBron is almost definitely not going to the Lakers, Raptors, or Heat that means Bosh could be heading the Chicago or New York.

I don't know where Bosh is going but I do know this. If Bosh and LeBron team up with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in Chicago it's all over. That team will destroy anything in its path as long as it plays unselfishly. That scenario seems like it has the best chance of materializing because both Bosh and James want to play for a winner, with that in mind it would be flat out insane to go to the Knicks. Why? So they can watch Spike Lee on the sidelines 41 times a year? I don't think so.

I'm sure there's going to be plenty more reports like this in the next few weeks. Some will be legitimate, others will be complete speculation. I'm bracing myself for a free agency frenzy as we all should be. Right now it looks as if Chicago has a great chance of landing both Bosh and James, but that could change any day. No one really knows until the ink is on the paper.