OT: He is coming...

[ser_solace]

Another "source" said Bosh and Wade are going to Miami.

Geez, who knows...

http://myespn.go.com/s/conversations/show/story/5360134

[Da Coach]

The rumor of Bosh and Wade to Miami is gaining strength-

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5360134

[ser_solace]

Heh. And I was just bragging to a friend in Miami that Chicago was going to steal Wade. Sorry, guys, I jinxed the whole thing.

[BradleyBrave]

It's not a rumor anymore. It looks like once again, the Chicago Bulls will strike out in free agency. Unreal.

[JMM28]

It's not a rumor anymore. It looks like once again, the Chicago Bulls will strike out in free agency. Unreal.

Not a real shock to anyone. Gar Forman is about as incompetent as they come, a holdover from Pink Floyd. His greatest accomplishment before this was getting New Mexico State recruits enough credits through some christian degree factory. They would be best off to launch him and Pax into basketball orbit and move on.

No coffee in the Bulls offices anymore. Coffee is for closers.

[SFP]

If the Bulls fail in getting one of the premiere players in this draft then they have to ditch Pax. If you can't sell what they have to offer then they really have to go. Besides the weather Chicago had everything you would want. They had the best supporting complimentary cast by a long stretch, 2nd best market to NY and a ton of cap space to make it work.

[BradleyBrave]

It's disappointing, but just a month or two ago no one had LBJ going anywhere. No one had Dwyane Wade going anywhere. Chris Bosh was a FA that the Bulls were targeting, among others. As it shakes out, it appears that that's all holding true. I think when you look at Bosh v Boozer, Boozer's resume is much better. Bosh would have been a great complimentary piece, but I am not sure he's the franchise-type player many are making him out to be. If the Bulls can add Boozer and a shooter or two, they're still markedly better than they were last year, and a top 4 team in the East. I don't know if they'd be better than an aging Boston team or Orlando, but I would put them on par with Cleveland and Miami for sure. They'd have a better roster 1-7 than either of those teams.

I'll also add that while on paper LBJ in Miami looks to be unbeatable, I think it could also be a very combustible situation. This isn't the Olympics where you're playing for your country for free for only a few weeks. This is the NBA, where it's about money, ego, and legacy. If LBJ wants to be 'King', he can't be 2nd fiddle in Miami. There's also only one ball, and both guys need to have it all of the time.

Now, free agency is a failure for the Bulls if they end up with David Lee. If there's anyone who's overvalued in free agency, it's him.

[Braves4Life]

I agree with you BB. It sickens me to think that a bunch of spoiled, pampered, over-paid athletes may be dictating the team that they play for. I think this collusion sets a VERY bad precedent for the NBA and, quite frankly, I'm shocked that a "dictator" like Stern would even allow it.

I think LBJ stands a much greater chance at glory and multiple titles in Chicago than he would in Miami. However, I know that the allure of South Beach and the Miami nightlife would definitely sway MY decision.

[BradleyBrave]

I agree with you BB. It sickens me to think that a bunch of spoiled, pampered, over-paid athletes may be dictating the team that they play for. I think this collusion sets a VERY bad precedent for the NBA and, quite frankly, I'm shocked that a "dictator" like Stern would even allow it.

I think LBJ stands a much greater chance at glory and multiple titles in Chicago than he would in Miami. However, I know that the allure of South Beach and the Miami nightlife would definitely sway MY decision.

South Beach and Miami nightlife would not equal championships. It all depends on what LBJ is really about. Heck, Shaq has even said publicly he doesn't know how they won a title there because of all the partying and distractions.

This collusion of players like this will likely never happen again. The new CBA that's coming in a few years will be designed to prevent it from what I am hearing.

[BUBrave28]

I feel so used. Again.

BB -- Who is out there as a SG, or shooter, to pair with Boozer? I am pissed that we gave up Kirk for absolutely no reason now.

Way to go Bulls, you suck again!

[JMM28]

South Beach and Miami nightlife would not equal championships. It all depends on what LBJ is really about. Heck, Shaq has even said publicly he doesn't know how they won a title there because of all the partying and distractions.

This collusion of players like this will likely never happen again. The new CBA that's coming in a few years will be designed to prevent it from what I am hearing.

If LeBron stays in Cleveland, he might as well be LeBron Malone.

If LeBron goes to Miami, it will be (for now) that he can't win without Wade/Bosh.

If LeBron goes to Chicago with say Boozer, I think that puts them as the favorites in the east, and depending on Thibodeau and bench, maybe favorites in the whole league

[amckillip]

South Beach and Miami nightlife would not equal championships. It all depends on what LBJ is really about. Heck, Shaq has even said publicly he doesn't know how they won a title there because of all the partying and distractions.

This collusion of players like this will likely never happen again. The new CBA that's coming in a few years will be designed to prevent it from what I am hearing.

That is interesting. Do you really think it's collusion. I feel like I work I clearly pick the team members I want to work with and such, and I don't think it's collusion, I think it's making sure I'm successful. I'm generally pro-salary cap, really anything that creates parity NFL-style, but I don't think I have a problem with what Bosh, Wade, LBJ, etc. are doing. Other than the fact I'm bored to tears with it and just want it done that is.

[Braves4Life]

Do you really think it's collusion?

If the owners conspired to do to LBJ, DW, & CB what they are doing to the League and other owners around the league what would YOU call it? It would be called collusion and shown to be illegal. This time it's just the shoe on the other foot.

[BradleyBrave]

I feel so used. Again.

BB -- Who is out there as a SG, or shooter, to pair with Boozer? I am pissed that we gave up Kirk for absolutely no reason now.

Way to go Bulls, you suck again!

There are lots of shooters out there. Kyle Korver, Anthony Morrow, Ray Allen, and Mike Miller would all fit the bill.

Kirk Hinrich was not very good. Moving him and his obscene contract was a good move both for basketball and finances.

The Bulls will be better next year than this year, that I can promise.

[BradleyBrave]

That is interesting. Do you really think it's collusion. I feel like I work I clearly pick the team members I want to work with and such, and I don't think it's collusion, I think it's making sure I'm successful. I'm generally pro-salary cap, really anything that creates parity NFL-style, but I don't think I have a problem with what Bosh, Wade, LBJ, etc. are doing. Other than the fact I'm bored to tears with it and just want it done that is.

It's a good question, with fair points from amc and b4life. The definition of collusion is this -

A secret agreement between two or more parties for a fraudulent, illegal, or deceitful purpose.

Was anything Bosh and Wade did illegal? No. Fraudulent? Probably not. Deceitful? Most likely. We'll never know the whole story, but them sharing an agent (an esteemed Bradley HOFer) leads me to believe they've had the Miami plan in place for a long time. Their flirtation with the Bulls adds fuel to that fire, as most don't believe there was ever any sincere interest there. Rather, more of a scoping out of what an Easter Conference foe may be planning to do. When Wade comes on and talks about his family, being close to his kids, and then says this -

"Ultimately, it came down to Chris and his decision and he wanted to be in Miami."

One, it leads me to believe that Wade won't be winning any 'Father of the Year' awards since he let someone else decide how much time he's going to spend with his kids, and two, that they've had this agreement for a while now. With max salaries and everything known on the table (i.e. no new team able to offer longer or bigger contracts than the other), it can be argued that it was deceitful what Bosh and more so Wade did with the Bulls.

And as many have said, I am ready for the circus to end.