Stephen A. Smith of Fox Sports reported this morning on the Dan Patrick Show that it’s “highly likely” that Chris Bosh and LeBron James will soon join Dwyane Wade in Miami.
Smith to Dan Patrick on Monday:
I got a call last night from a source and I double-checked it with another and they told me essentially that LeBron James and Chris Bosh are going to tag team and go together and join Dwyane Wade in Miami.
Around 10 o’clock last night or so I heard the news and stayed up for a few more hours and made a few phone calls and I felt comfortable enough to go with what I reported.
I believe it’s highly likely, I wouldn’t say anything is a done deal with LeBron James until it’s signed.
Last night I heard emphatically that this is the direction that LeBron James has leaned toward and Dwyane Wade has done a very, very good job of convincing them (James and Bosh) not just about Pat Riley, not just about the fact there are no state (income) taxes in the state of Florida but at the same time he’s there in a tandem and that’s what it’s going to take. Either that or a three-headed monster to win multiple championships and that LeBron James is all in.
Three weeks ago during the NBA Finals in Los Angeles Wade was reportedly in town recruiting James for the Heat. While in L.A., the two were spotted at Boa Steakhouse in Hollywood at the same time - along with Wade’s girlfriend Gabrielle Union.
Wade has also made it known publicly in the past that he planned to talk to other current high profile free agents about what their destinations might be.
11:24 am on June 28th, 2010
TITTIES!!!!
11:39 am on June 28th, 2010
omzomigod…… no… NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
*ahem*
Bring it.
11:49 am on June 28th, 2010
I love Farts!
11:51 am on June 28th, 2010
Lakers say “just bring it!”
12:08 pm on June 28th, 2010
Seriously Laker fan(s), if this deal does indeed go through, you will have no more titles in… let’s say… the next decade, at the very least!
12:09 pm on June 28th, 2010
There may be no state income tax but there is still an NBA luxury tax!
12:13 pm on June 28th, 2010
Two words for L.A. - SUK IT! bwuaaahahahahahaha
12:13 pm on June 28th, 2010
@EAsportsInDaGame, 3,4,6 is worth paying the luxury tax
12:29 pm on June 28th, 2010
That bit of information is highly suspect. People are so hungry for news of this NBA off season they’ll swallow anything thrown at them. Two of these egos may co exist for a brief period, not all three.
Steven Smith is just making sure his name is mentioned prominently - that’s all.
12:31 pm on June 28th, 2010
Still not enough size to beat the Laker”s
12:31 pm on June 28th, 2010
KOBE bryant five times NBA champion!! LOS ANGELES LAKERS fifteen times NBA champions!!! all you haters out there cant take that away from the LAKERS!!
12:42 pm on June 28th, 2010
I really feel for the Cleveland fans. They might as well turn off the lights there and call it a day.
12:43 pm on June 28th, 2010
How would they have enough money to sign them? Right now they don’t have enough to offer 2 max contracts let alone 3
12:48 pm on June 28th, 2010
Steven A. Smith is a bigger joke than this story.
12:49 pm on June 28th, 2010
if that deal were to go through, the lakers will have won there last championship. The heat would win the next 5 titles. Get off kobes dick already
12:55 pm on June 28th, 2010
How can you laugh at the Lakers when this deal is not even done. I’ll bet my last dollar that this is only a fantasy. Sorry, Laker haters.
12:55 pm on June 28th, 2010
It’s ok Wilmer the celtics have 17…when you have that many you can talk but until then shhh! haha
12:56 pm on June 28th, 2010
Actually, it’s 16 championships. Next year will be 17.
12:58 pm on June 28th, 2010
Bring it bitches, 3 superstars aint gonna stop LA. 3-Peat BABYYYYY!
1:01 pm on June 28th, 2010
Stephen A. Smith is still alive?
1:04 pm on June 28th, 2010
well if you have to buy a team to compete with the lakers we build not buy 16 rings btw 11 real ships for all you sorry ass celtic fans 8 of your rings were there was 8 teams in the nba in the modern era nobody is even close most wins in nba history regular and post season get off these nuts we clearly the best team/franchise ever and all though I love the lakers kobe is the best player by far his attitude sucks but the man is sick he can work on his sense of humor
1:06 pm on June 28th, 2010
people still take Stephen A. Smith seriously?
1:07 pm on June 28th, 2010
Even Pau’s Euro Mop can’t save you now!
1:09 pm on June 28th, 2010
The Stephen A. report is false!…..and just look at all the Lakers haters spewing their venom. Get over it! We have the best franchise in the NBA . Period!!!
1:11 pm on June 28th, 2010
Funny how just yesterday reports surfaced, and were talked about on ESPN, about how LeBron to the Bulls is a done deal… How about the media actually do some real reporting, and tell me in a few weeks where he actually signed.
1:16 pm on June 28th, 2010
Wilmer;
Lakers are sixteen times NBA champions (and 31 times Western Conference champions).
1:25 pm on June 28th, 2010
This would be enough to win multiple titles for Miami, and I hope it’s true, but Smith is not a reliable source for anything other than loud barking.
1:26 pm on June 28th, 2010
lol its all over now i mean d wade lebron and bosh? lakers better kiss thier next banner goodbye…YES!
1:54 pm on June 28th, 2010
Mr. Smith is just blowing hot air out his ass. How can they afford three max contracts and even so with three big egos like that someone is bound to rebel but i guess if you have to buy a championship, (can anyone say NEW YORK) , than build a championship team more powe, but you still wont stop the Black Mamba so to all you jealous Laker Haters suck it Bitches
3:11 pm on June 28th, 2010
I thought LBJ in Chitown was a “done” deal… lol…
These guys don’t know jack
3:45 pm on June 28th, 2010
If this happens please dont ever compare Lebron to Kobe or even Jordan.
3:46 pm on June 28th, 2010
sports is screwed up. who needs management anymore? Just buy the championship and then say how smart you were. getting as stupid as baseball.only the NFL does ir right
3:51 pm on June 28th, 2010
Don’t bu it. Bosh a number three option. He’d freak out. Wade is just being hopeful. Lebron to Chicago and maybe Bosh to Miami. Lebron needs to run the show, not have Wade run it.
4:00 pm on June 28th, 2010
Ask Jay-Z or Jeezy they may know the truth haha
4:35 pm on June 28th, 2010
Yall needa JUMP OFF kobes dick cus if it wasn’t for him they wouldve probably lost….btw if james and bosh do get signed for next season n play w wade ITS A RAPPPP!!! Miami alll dayyyyy!
4:36 pm on June 28th, 2010
Not a chance. I wouldnt be surprised if Bosh goes to miami, which would make them a serious contender again with wade and that young nucleous around them. But no way Lebron and Wade end up on the same team. Niether of them are ready to not be a ultra superstar. Thats what it would take to win. Right now that is hands down Wades team, and rightfully so. Would he let that go cause with Lebron (NBAs favorite child) coming to town it would immediatley become his team to the nation. Wade who? That will never ever happen. Maybe I would buy it when they are both older and made their money and all that and now just want a ring that has eluded them (I know Wade has one, but he wants more). Knda like Garnett and Ray Allen and Pierce. But I dont see either of them willing to sit in each others shadow to win. Not till they are convinced they cant do it as the only MAN in town. WOnt Happen. (Bosh would go though as he isnt really in the same league as those two and doesnt have the ego that they have. (Wade has a statue of himself in his home, whats that tell you?)
6:31 pm on June 28th, 2010
If it does happen the heat could come out of the east for the next five years and possibly win it all for the next five years… I’m keeping hope alive!!!
6:40 pm on June 28th, 2010
They can’t sign unless one takes a pay cut. That would be Bosh. Why would he, when he can get a max contract from another team. You can only have two max contracts.
7:17 pm on June 28th, 2010
The Heat can pay 3 max contrats if they move Beasly
11:52 pm on June 28th, 2010
Lebron is a coward if he teams up with Wade
12:03 am on June 29th, 2010
you haven’t read the news….the heat have enough to resign dwade AND sign 2 max free agents….
12:31 am on June 29th, 2010
Even if these three were on a team together, the Lakers are a true team. The Celtics aren’t done and neither are the magic. Anyone saying these three on a team would win 5 straight are high.
2:54 am on June 29th, 2010
LeBron would be a coward going to the bulls to hide in MJ’s shadow, he would admit he is jordan’s bytch if he went there…. By going to Miami LeBron is a traitor to cleveland, but hey he gave it what he could, he is not a coward going to Miami, how is going to team with your boys to win championships cowardly? It is smart, they are saying this is how we will have a chance against the lakers…. together on the same team… Miami loves wade, but wade is not to miami what MJ is to chicago because wade’s career is not even over yet, MJ got 6 ships! Marino is still the Miami son, but if wade and lebron and bosh go together in miami, those 3 will take over miami sports forever and leave their mark like MJ in chicago, jeter in new york, Magic and Kobe in LA, Russell in Boston…. A dynasty would probably happen, why let kobe get all the rings??? Why battle it out vs each other in the east when they have been doing it for 7 years and no one has come out ahead for the better good, this is simply smart business and smart basketball…. do not deny it because you hate it
6:11 am on June 29th, 2010
During the draft, I heard one of the salary cap specialists, tom penn mention that if the Heat traded Michael Beasley, they would be able to afford 3 max contract players, that’s counting Wade, so it’s not unrealistic to think all 3 end up in Miami.
6:15 am on June 29th, 2010
Some of these posts are amazing with how little knowledge they have but think they are brilliant. The Heat have $44 million in cap space . Easily enough for 2 max contracts. With a sign and trade could add Bosh at the max level also. Read the paper or watch sportscenter or listen to the radio before you post, you just sound stupid.
6:20 am on June 29th, 2010
A buddy of mine that is a principal with the IPBA (International Professional Basketball Association) says they already have a team in Israel that wants to pay LeBron $30 million for a shortened season. But World Wide Wes is not a member of the IPBA. The thing is, the IPBA also gets contracts for the agents with these franchises overseas and not just the player. IPBA agents are able to secure contracts for the players in markets well past the typical retirement age and even players that are injured. That doesn’t happen in the USA as easily. The best agents are joining the IPBA now. The game of basketball is now global and these types of decisions are going to continue to change the sport in ways that may surprise Americans that are used to the best players in the game playing at home.
10:40 am on June 29th, 2010
If the heat do get the three amigos then keep beasley if you can but get rid of mario chambers, Joel Anthony and Jamalla Maglorie. Heat have too many centers and need to cut down on players. They have vets O’Neal (jermanine), Rafer Alston, Jamaal Magloire, Quinten Richardson. It will be interesting to see if they get the three amigos. My only concern is that there role, and numbers will go away. especially labron’s and wades numbers. can they co exist? if they can make it happen then we will see.
11:43 am on June 29th, 2010
Hey!!! I would just like to give some good lucks to all the players on your guys team. Happy Playing… Hope you win some games. I know you will, but by for now. Please write back if you can
12:16 pm on June 29th, 2010
WOW. IM A DIE HARD LAKERS FAN… BUT IF THESE 3 SIGN TOGETHER I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THATS A WRAP. JUST GIVE THEM THE TITTLE THE NEXT 5 YEARS
1:15 pm on June 29th, 2010
Bosh to Timberwolves. Woves will also take Beasley, and with Saint Rubio we will be NBA champs. Suck it up Miami and LA. We are the new Big Dogs on the block. Woof woof Woof
4:48 pm on June 29th, 2010
If this were to happen it would be Jordan, Pippen and the Bulls all over again. I would really love to see this happen. But don’t count on it. Its Miami. Not NY, Chicago or LA. Miami is a smaller market like Cleveland. But you gotta love that Pat Riley is in position to coach these three.
6:15 pm on June 29th, 2010
Was Kobe a coward for saying he wouldn’t play in Charlotte and thus forcing a trade to L.A.? Was Kobe a coward for teaming with Shaq to win…was Jordan a coward for teaming with Pippen to win? Magic and Kareem? Anyone who thinks its a cowardly act to join forces and take pay concessions to win doesn’t know anything about the business of the NBA and needs to shut their mouths…you don’t know Jack…all of the modern NBA champs need a 2 or 3 headed monster to win. Phil Jackson has made a living coaching these type teams and has 11 coaching rings to prove it and if LeBron, Wade and Bosh end up in Miami I bet Pat Riley may coach again and add to his already 5 coaching NBA rings…heck he might even catch Jackson!
6:20 pm on June 29th, 2010
As for Miami itself…it’s like east coast L.A. only smaller…stars, South Beach and no real legacy in the NBA…the MJ - Phil Jackson shadow looms over Chicago (heck, MJ’s statue is outside the arena) and Cleveland was slain at the hands of the Bulls on multiple occassions in the playoffs…the Knicks also don’t have any iconic shadows that would hinder anyone’s legacy, but unless James has already made up his mind to go to the Knicks, I think Miami is his best option for the money, the teammates and his legacy if tey can do for Miami what MJ did for Chicago.
7:57 am on June 30th, 2010
JAMES,BOSH,JOHNSON TO N Y!!!!
3:24 pm on June 30th, 2010
whatever happens the off season goin be real damn interesting
10:16 pm on July 9th, 2010
lol this is a done deal already just figured and lets be realistic im not dat much of a lakers fan but kobe is a great player, but one player can only take so much bosh wade and lebron…c’mon guys lets be realistic the lakers beat the celtics cuz all our good players are gettin old… but these guys are still pretty young its a wrap…
8:03 am on July 12th, 2010
I guess Stephen A. Smith was right after all