OT: He is coming...

[VeveJones007]

But remember, Cleveland DID have the league's best record each of the last two years.

But the fallacy with that argument is that they didn't have the league's best record because of the supporting cast. They had the league's best record because they have LeBron. So if you put LeBron on a team that actually has some support, then look out.

It's not just you, but I don't think people realize how bad the rest of the Cavs roster is. That team doesn't sniff the playoffs without LeBron, whereas the Bulls made the playoffs with half a team.

[shaunguth]

According to one NBA executive ...."I think it's a done deal".

The executive said he had gathered from discussions with his fellow NBA executives that James was strongly leaning toward joining the Bulls in tandem with another free agent, Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/27/sports/basketball/27draft.html?adxnnl=1&ref=basketball&adxnnlx=1277636556-Or9r1NXR6jSakwW6VQlAjA

[BradleyBrave]

Vegas odds on LBJ joining the Bulls went from +125 to -500 over the weekend. Hmm....

[Da Coach]

This has been mentioned before- a former Bradley basketball player, now a powerful player-agent, will play a big part in this year's free agent moves.

Henry Thomas was a guard from Chicago Harlan High School who played basketball for Joe Stowell. Chuck Buescher was an assistant coach while Thomas played for Bradley, and among his teammates was Tom Les (Jim's brother). Henry Thomas played his freshman year in 1970-71 when freshmen were not eligible to play for the varsity. He then played 3 seasons for the varsity 1971-1974.

Thomas, based in Chicago, represents Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-henry-thomas-s062610,0,6940040.story

[DUBrave5]

Still trying to find a link for this, but after listening to the Afternoon Saloon on the way home from work, apparently Stephen A. Smith went on the Waddle and Silvey show this morning and reported as a "fact" that LeBron is going to Miami with Chris Bosh. He claimed he was reporting it as news and if it doesn't happen, he would be willing to go back on the show and eat his words.

It seems every person has some inside knowledge as to where he is going and each source thinks somewhere differently. I'm just ready for this whole ordeal to be over with.

[BradleyBrave]

Still trying to find a link for this, but after listening to the Afternoon Saloon on the way home from work, apparently Stephen A. Smith went on the Waddle and Silvey show this morning and reported as a "fact" that LeBron is going to Miami with Chris Bosh. He claimed he was reporting it as news and if it doesn't happen, he would be willing to go back on the show and eat his words.

It seems every person has some inside knowledge as to where he is going and each source thinks somewhere differently. I'm just ready for this whole ordeal to be over with.

And as we speak Boers and Bernstein are poking holes in all of Stephen A. Smith's 'sources'. I too am ready for it to be over, there's been a new 'done deal' every day for the past week.

[thefish7]

I'm ready for it to get done too. I'm not totally confidence, but I feel like the LeBron-Bosh to Chicago scenario could come true. As it happens, I don't think anyone should confuse Stephen A. Smith as particularly credible.

[SFP]

Chicago make too much sense for it not to happen. Then if you are Korver or Allen you ask where do I sign. If you are the Bulls you go after Korver right away with Allen as a backup. The reason you go with Korver is because he is younger. I'm not a Bulls fan and I have to say they would be scary.

[ser_solace]

Going to Miami would be ridiculous. That is such a garbage team outside of Wade.

[amckillip]

ESPN reporting Miami will sign Lebron, DWade, and Chris Bosh in a package deal after meeting in Miami this weekend... If true it would clearly give Miami some serious talent but virtually zero role players... And leave teams like Cleveland, the New Yorks, and Chicago out in the cold. I also think Joe Johnson could be a huge winner because several team have tons cap room and he is the 'next best' player.

[Da Coach]

ESPN reporting Miami will sign Lebron, DWade, and Chris Bosh in a package deal after meeting in Miami this weekend... If true it would clearly give Miami some serious talent but virtually zero role players... And leave teams like Cleveland, the New Yorks, and Chicago out in the cold. I also think Joe Johnson could be a huge winner because several team have tons cap room and he is the 'next best' player.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5338472

but it appears that Miami is still a little short of money under the salary cap to sign all 3- LeBron, Bosh, and Wade to max contracts. They would need to peddle Michael Beasley first.

[thefish7]

ESPN reporting Miami will sign Lebron, DWade, and Chris Bosh in a package deal after meeting in Miami this weekend... If true it would clearly give Miami some serious talent but virtually zero role players... And leave teams like Cleveland, the New Yorks, and Chicago out in the cold. I also think Joe Johnson could be a huge winner because several team have tons cap room and he is the 'next best' player.

To be fair the Bulls aren't exactly flush with roleplayers ... but at least we have two other quality starters in Deng and Noah to go along with our superstar, Rose. Incidentally, most would seem to agree that Rose is the better fit with LeBron when compared with D-Wade.

[houstontxbrave]

If James, Wade and Bosh all play together at the money they are going to command who in this league is going to play with them for below market value money?

And even with those 3 together it is not a better team then what the Lakers will roll out there nightly. Gasol, Odom, Bryant, Artest are still better then 3 with no one else.

Egos will eventually take over.

If James is serious about winning he goes to either Chicago or the Clippers, they both have more parts in place to win now.

And Joe Johnson is not an "A" type player, if someone goes max with him they are going to be disappointed... signed Atlanta rolling over in 4 to Orlando.

If Chicago loses out on the James, Bosh stuff then Id want Amare and Rudy Gay.

[Da Coach]

Now comes word from Henry Thomas (Bosh and Wade's agent) and other sources that the reported summit meeting between Bosh, Wade, and LeBron last weekend never happened-

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/david-kaplan-chicago-sports/

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sedano-says/2010/06/wade-lbj-bosh-summit-didnt-happen-in-miami.html

[VeveJones007]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5338472

but it appears that Miami is still a little short of money under the salary cap to sign all 3- LeBron, Bosh, and Wade to max contracts. They would need to peddle Michael Beasley first.

Yeah, and SI was reporting that Cleveland still has the inside track on LeBron. It's all up in the air. I imagine the next report will be that he's going to the Nets with Bosh.

I'm most worried about the Heat. If they deal Beasley, then you know it's done.