Wade, Bosh to sign with Heat
When Amare Stoudemire signed with New York a few days ago, I actually thought it was good news for the Chicago Bulls. Today's big news was less favorable for Chicago.
Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both would have looked great in Bulls red. They'll instead be wearing Miami Heat black next season. It was reported this morning — and Bosh and Wade confirmed the news minutes ago on ESPN's SportsCenter — that both free agents will sign with the Heat. Worse still, LeBron James might very well join the duo in Florida, it is widely being speculated. What we all feared when the Bulls started strongly committing themselves to dumping salary — that they would strike out on all of the major free agents — is on the verge of coming true.
Wade, of course, has spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Heat. Bosh comes from Toronto and figures to give the Heat an immediate upgrade over a roster that went 47-35 in 2009-10. Even though the rest of Miami's cupboard is bare, scoring shouldn't be a problem for the Heat. They've already got perhaps the best inside-out combo in the Association, or at least the best this side of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol.
James, we learned last night, plans to unveil his plans Thursday night in an hour-long television special. Initially I found it ridiculous that James would opt for such an event — just who does he think he is? — but I've softened a bit after learning that all ad revenues from the program will be donated to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Hopefully the Chicago Bulls join that charity as the big benefactors of Thursday's proceedings, but I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic. It seems that the smart money is now on James going to Miami or staying in Cleveland. We'll see in 30-something hours.
