Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 at 9:00 am  |  172 responses

Report: LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh Met in Miami

UPDATE: … Or maybe they didn’t.

by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

Who knows? Maybe the three biggest NBA free agents this summer met up in Miami over the weekend to discuss the new season of “True Blood.” No one can say for sure.

According to ESPN and their sources, however, Bosh, Wade and James got together and finally had that Free Agent Summit.

It was a much smaller affair than what was initially dreamed up a few weeks ago, and more importantly, this particular meeting had a very specific goal: the triumvirate reportedly wanted to explore the terrifying possibility of playing together in South Beach next season.

Sources close to the situation said Monday night that three of the biggest names in basketball — Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James — met over the weekend in Miami to seriously discuss their futures, with a focus on the increasingly plausible possibility of those three teaming up with Wade’s Heat.

Yet sources with knowledge of the meeting stressed to ESPN.com that James, while clearly intrigued by the possibility of forming a star-studded Miami trio with Wade and Bosh, has not yet committed to leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for South Beach. One source did label Miami as the new frontrunner to land James in a package deal with Bosh and a re-signed Wade but also cautioned that James was “non-committal” with the start of free agency fast approaching.

Sources said James remains committed to fielding free-agent pitches from several teams when free agency officially opens Thursday at 12:01 a.m. ET, with the Chicago Bulls continuing to rank as a highly appealing destination and a return to Cleveland still figuring prominently in his thinking and with the Dallas Mavericks looming as an intriguing outsider.

Everyone seems to have a theory these days: 48 hours ago, Chicago was a “done deal”, some now claim there’s friction within the LeBron camp, others believe Bosh is a goner from Toronto, and this is apparently all part of Pat Riley’s evil and ingenious plan.

The truth is that no one truly knows what’s going to happen once the clock strikes midnight on July 1st, not even the players themselves.

Just hang on to your hats, it’s going to be a wild ride.

UPDATE: Wade’s people are now saying there was no meeting in Miami: “Dwyane Wade’s representatives on Tuesday disputed an ESPN report that Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh held a mini-summit in Miami this past weekend to discuss their plans for free agency, which begins Thursday. Henry Thomas, who is Wade’s agent, said the report was untrue and that Wade spent the weekend in Chicago. Bosh spent the weekend in Miami and told The Miami Herald that the Heat is in ‘top contention’ to sign him. But the players are believed to have discussed among themselves the possibility of all three playing for the Heat.”

Please adjust your lives accordingly.

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Who said I would root against the Heat?
    And when was I slurping the Lakers?
    I said they were the best team in the League. They were, duh. I don’t have a personal team, not do have serious vendattas against players. Except Vince Carter.
    I like teams with talent, and I’m a fan of individual players. I’ve been a fan of Rose, and I’m warming to Noah after the way he stepped up last year. I think you’re underselling dude because he is most definitely not a stiff. He’s really just been getting by on athletic ability on offense, but he has shown some decent touch a willingness to improve. That’s huge with his motor.
    If the Heat signed AI, I would root for AI and the Heat, but it wouldn’t mean that was my team.
    People are stuck on this Wade/Bron joining, but has anybody thought about how much each of them love to dominate the ball?
    People keep saying the Point Guard is immaterial, but that assumes you’re running some sort of structured, offense where cats are getting shots in their spots no matter what. If you’re not, then the point is incredibly important because he dictates who gets the ball where, or you’re going to have Lebron and Wade taking turns running 1-4 flat, while everybody else stands around.
    Because last time I checked, tha’ts what both of their teams have done for the past three or four years.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Eboy

    Talent trumps all. That’s what has made the Lakers champs, no? No? Yes? Maybe? Good coaching….a proven system? All of the above? But really, the best talent wins most of the time. Not all of the time, but it’s hard to argue results. I’d use a team like Boston two years ago as the model that this potentially can turn into. 3 huge stars (these three are actually huger, no?)that buy into a philosophy (don’t think Riles couldn’t one-up Ubuntu)and make it work because THEIR TALENT can dictate the way they play the game.

  • http://shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Cheryl

    that’s what i’m concerned about, Allenp and mentioned in one of my posts. it’ll take a really talented coach with creative offensive schemes to make this triumvirate work. I do want to say that I don’t think the way Bron and Wade play is due to selfishness, to the contrary, I think they play the way they do because of the team around them and that even their coaches trusted them more than the rest of the team. Both players are team oriented, they just need consistent output from teammates.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Moose

    Eboy has a b0ner from this possibility.

  • http://Www.dimemag.com Royal

    I am soooooo happy my Lakers are in the west. The Bulls,Celtics,Orlando and heat are going to destroy eachother in the postseason next year ,while the team who gave LA serious problems last year will be losing their franchise player (Amare)

  • http://fjkf.com Jukai

    Allen: So you claim Rose is only a ‘shoot first point-guard’ on the Bulls because he isn’t on a team that allows for a point guard to dominate and distribute the ball… but you ignore the fact that Wade and Lebron have never been on a team that allows them to play off the ball?
    I think Wade and Lebron would get along like Jordan/Pippen… REALLY believe so… they’ve never been on a TEAM where they could play off the ball… but don’t you remember Lebron in the olympics? He was a DAMN PIPPEN CLONE. Distributing occassionally, playing off occassionally. It was beautiful.

  • The Philosopher

    Prediction Time… Again:
    Those three guys in Miami, The King would average a tripple double.

  • http://www.twitter.com/JoshElam JE

    I posted this on a couple other threads, but you heard it from me first: “3-6 Mafia”

  • cp3fan

    Wade played better than LeBron did during the playoffs for his one series. He gave the Celtics 46 points in Game 4 while LeBron gave up as his series with the Celtics went on.

  • cp3fan

    Rose is a point guard, not an undersized two. He is a top five point guard who will get better defensively as his career goes on. The list goes like this: Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose. Steve Nash is good, but only on offense. The four I mentioned are good on both ends of the floor.

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    Jukai
    I never said that Wade and Bron couldn’t play off the ball.
    I said they haven’t, and that if they want to have success, one of them will have to sacrifice doing what he is most comfortable doing on offense to make it work.
    Or, they will have to run a very structured offense with defined roles and attack areas.
    Or they will have to have a strong point guard to rein people in, and decide who gets the ball when.
    I”m saying that a “roll out the ball” type offense will cause problems, in my opinion. I’m saying that a throwing any old bum out at the point will cause some problems as well.
    I don’t think Wade and Bron can’t pass, far from it. But, I think that when you develop certain habits, and certain ways of having success, it’s quite easy to get stuck in your ways.
    Do people remember how Brandon Roy had the same problem this year when Andre Miller came in?

  • http://www.slamonline.com jumpman3224

    Prediction: If LBJ teams with some combo of Wade, Rose, Bosh he does not three-peat as MVP. *Side note, I saw @Philosopher’s prediction about him averaging a trip-dub with that MIA lineup and I could see that, which got me thinking about the Big O. I assumed his one MVP came in his famous trip-dub season, but it didn’t (he was the 64 MVP and he missed a trip-dub average by .1 rpg that season). The 62 MVP (Big O’s trip dub season) was Russell, who also was named to the all-nba 2nd team?! That’s kinda shocking that you have one guy average a monster trip dub and Wilt average 50+ and Russel gets the MVP.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    LeBron is not going to Miami.

  • CC413

    eboy how many teams in the entire L have centers that hustle and play with the passion noah plays with.. i can only think of one (anderson varejao) yeah howard is obviously better.. but not even howard plays with hustle and desire in which noah does nor will he ever.. everything comes natural with howard he is jus gifted.. joakim noah is not he has to work to get his and his work ethic has turned him into one of the top centers in the L.. theres not one team in the L (outside of orlando, houston, cleveland -only cause they already have his clone varejao- and boston) that would not love to have noah wearing their jersey.. there is only a handful of players in the L that play with the intesity and drive and do it with such a motor as noah and that a special quality that every gm in the L look for and wish their players posessed.. if bron and bosh join noah and the bulls then several years and rings from now you will be swallowing your careless, ignorant, un-intelligent words

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    This is how it will go down: LeBron and Boozer sign with the Bulls, Bosh and Wade in Miami, Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson in NY,

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    LeBron is going to New Jersey. SO is another FA power forward in a sign and trade for Derrick Favors. Did anyone watch the draft???? The nets front office was referring to Favors as an ASSET. When ever are top 3 picks considered ASSETS? When they get traded or are going to get traded, thats when.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance

    @AllenP

    I’m going to have to disagree with you on this one. Rose is a great talent, but he is not a traditional point guard that would be “hard to find.” I get that players can be limited by their system or personell, but they have to have the skillset as well and I just don’t see the set up the offense, get the whole team involved skillset from Rose. Being a very willing and able passer doesn’t make you a point guard. And saying his jumper has improved or he’s like the Lebron of pgs has nothing to do with his ability to run a team.

    Now if they get Bosh and Lebron, they can have a chimp run the point and be fine, but saying finding a Rose-type player is a hard to do is just incorrect.

  • CC413

    dfrance jus how many player are there like rose since u say they are not hard to find?

  • T-Money

    Allen: you’re selling Bron and Wade short as basketball players. Great players find a way. They may have to sacrifice some of their creativity but they’ll find a way. Shaq and Kobe did it and these two actually like eachother. The truth is, Wade and Bron never played with someone that was good enough to make them play off the ball. CB4 is a sidekick, he’ll get the crumbs and that’s that.

  • CC413

    CB4 will get more than the crumbs.. he will get his trash points as he has all throughout his career but he has made it known that he will get more than that or he simply wont sign.. he wants to be a main player and he will get what he deserves to get.. which is more than trash points

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  • http://fjkf.com Jukai

    Allen- point still stands. You say rose can easily become a ‘true point’ on another team while you constantly interject on the Lebron/Wade tandem saying ‘they’ve never played like that.’ Do you see the point I’m trying to make?
    Good players will find ways to play together. Unless theyr’e Shaq and Kobe.

  • matt

    They can’t fill a decent roster with those three ball hogs taking all the cash–Miami’s pockets aren’t THAT deep. Plus, who is the go-to guy? Bosh has said publicly he wants to be the centerpiece–not 2nd fiddle. I truly doubt he will be 3rd fiddle.

  • The D Train

    If Derrick Rose is considered the 5th or 6th best PG in the NBA, wouldn’t that mean that finding a player like him is difficult? Finding an NBA-skilled player is hard. Finding an NBA-skilled player who is an All-Star is even harder. Finding someone who is in the top 5 or 6 at their position in the entire NBA is also pretty damn difficult. So for anyone to indicate that “finding a Rose-type player is a hard to do is just incorrect” is completely dismissive of reality.

  • The D Train

    If Lebron leaves, Cleveland fans will hate him. But that hate will be completely misplaced. The fact that this is the first time that Lebron will ever have the chance to play with anyone that could be considered top 50 in the league is truly the saddest part of this whole affair. Seven years in and Mo Williams and Back-Stabbing Boozer are the best teammates he’s had over that time period? Seriously sad. And I hope that IF he does leave Cleveland, he mentions that, and that Cleveland at least partially understands that. This wouldn’t exactly be A-Rod leaving behind Griffey Jr and The Big Unit solely for the money.

  • Edler

    Bosh and Wade in Miami and then Riley should sign AI for 3 million for one season at the point and then they win the ring.

  • ktokyo

    Please, please, please Bron, Bosh, and Wade play on the same team together on any team in the Eastern Conference. Next years’ Finals will be off the charts!! I’ll book my plane ticket to LA tomorrow!

  • http://www.clownpenis.com Tarzan Cooper

    Damn you teddy, I was about to do that. Quit jackn. The sh!t is getting thick in here. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  • http://slamonline.com Allenp

    I never agree that Rose wasn’t a true point guard. I have no indication that he’s in the mode of Jameer Nelson, or Aaron Brooks; players who have to look to score first to be effective.
    I think Rose is pass first. I just think he is asked to score more.
    From what I’ve seen of Wade and Bron since 2003, they don’t play that much off the ball, or work well off the ball. And, seven years into their careers, are they really going to want to trust and change when what they have been doing has worked so well, particularly for Wade. Remember, Wade has a ring dominating the ball, he knows that works. The coach has to sell those guys on changing their games to a certain degree and keep them happy through rough patches. It was different in Boston because the best player, KG, was pass first and not really a dominant scorer. Plus, KG, Ray and, to certain degree, Pierce were on the downside of their careers. Bosh, Wade and Bron are all in their primes, playing for rings and ultimate legacy. They might not be as willing to sacrifice, or they might not be as trusting if they struggle early. But, honestly I have no idea what’s going to happen, these are just things I wonder about.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    LeBron is one of the best players in the league at moving without the ball. Its still to be seen whether or not he loses interest because he has never spent more then 2 possessions in a row without it. But he is one of the best players in the league at getting to a spot on the floor to receive a pass and score, or that grabs attention away from other players at the basket.

  • http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:OzhW3M1GBSKkgM:http://fashionsensei.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/jackie-moon.jpg Jackie Moon

    I would go to Miami … damn I would have a good time down there if I was a billionaire, I want to be one so frickin bad

  • Fat Lever

    I gotta say, the title of this article might be “Pause” worthy. But then again, Wade “dont play pause, he’s from Chicagooooooo”.

  • http://claydefayette@yahoo.com Clay

    How much fun would it be to camp at the three point line with a team that had Bosh, Wade & LeBron?

  • http://claydefayette@yahoo.com Clay

    LeBron would be better off going to a team with a great coach rather than two superstars to go along with, but it looks like Riley would coach the Heat and mesh the players together. It would be nice to see Larry Brown back coaching the Clippers and getting LeBron to come with him. For LeBron, he could win being an undisputed number one with a great cast around him.

  • DC

    I can’t believe there’s actually talk about these three being on the same team, it just seams unreal.

  • http://claydefayette@yahoo.com Clay

    Hardest question of free agency, just not at all important: Where will David Lee call home by the end of the summer?

  • The D Train

    @Clay: NY Knicks. They can play the “we always wanted David back” card after Lebron, Wade, Bosh and Amare leave them hanging. All those losses, trades, and frustrations might just end up netting Knickerbocker fans Joe Johnson and David Lee…if Johnson doesn’t also sign elsewhere. Might not be a good summer for Spike and Co.

  • http://claydefayette@yahoo.com Clay

    D Train I don’t think the Knicks will get screwed that bad, but if they do he’d go back.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    If they all play in Miami, egos will take effect. Who is the Alpha dog, who gets ball in last seconds, and Lebron will be seen as riding Dwade’s coat tail. Wade is smart, if they play together, Wade will always have more rings if they win some together. The pressure on them, to me would kill them. If I was Bosh, Chi town is best place. Lebron should go to Chicago, but if he goes to Miami, it will end badly to me. Lebron is better off going to Nets or Knicks where he will have no expectations and just play. Lebron’s best ball was in 2007, when he led his team to finals, because he just played and that team had no expectations to do anything. Lebron cracks under pressure, just look at his career.

  • http://sdfjklf.com Jukai

    Allenp:
    Point…still… stands…
    Derrick Rose is ‘asked’ to score more just like Lebron and Wade are ‘asked’ to dominate the ball. Yeah, it’s seven years of evidence compared to two, but it’s still all we have to go on.
    EXCEPT: Lebron was excellent as combining playing off the ball, scoring, and distributing in the Olympics… and Wade played his role excellently too. We really have never SEEN Derrick Rose ever play the true point guard role (always played off the ball in college, scores in bunches in Chicago).
    I’m not saying Derrick Rose can’t— he definitely can. But I just think Wade and Lebron would work perfectly.
    Lebron DOES love to play the Pippen role. Wade CAN play off the ball and finish perfectly. End of story,

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    @Jukai: LeBron loves to play the Pippen role? Are u insane? How are u going to be the greatest basketball player ever if you are playing the Pippen role? There is no way these two will mesh, there will be a lot of jealousy at times no matter what, these guys just say the right things in the media and when LeBron starts to outplay the Wade or Wade starts to outplay Bron the media will blow it up like that one guy is much better then the other. Who would get the last shot? Their both still scorers and LeBron needs the ball, Wade will get frustrated when he is standing around watching James do his thing, This move would work if these guys were all 32 years old like the Celtics were when they formed the Big 3, but LeBron, Wade and Bosh are going to take hits because their stats will be worse, none of them will win MVP’s, Wade and LeBron compete against each other a lot through the season, one guy has a big game then the next night the other guy wants to do the same thats all good when you are on different teams but when you start competing with each other and your on the same team then it will get nasty. Wade and Bosh, LeBron and Boozer or Stoudemire is much better.

  • The Philosopher

    I’ll tell the truth:
    Say these guys pull this off. We’re talking a dynasty for the ages. I personally hope they do it, for NBA basketball, in my opinion, really needs this.
    Even IF they play together to just get a few rings, you know, play out their contracts, a few rings would do a plenty for each of their respective legacies.
    Even if they play together through part OR all of their contracts, at the end of this, they all will still be young enough to branch out again on their own, so to speak, with their own teams. Kind of like a ‘full circle’ type of thing.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    Rose´s a scoring PG, he showed no evidence of being a true point, but with Bron thats not needed, aside from his lack of ability to shoot they would fit greatly, so would Flash with Bron

  • Sean

    E-Boy stop talking out your ass..A roster of Rose, Luol, Gibson and Noah is much more promising than Beasley and Wade.

    Beasley isn`t in all honesty light years ahead of Gibson. Wade needs the ball to score and isn`t a distributor. Plus the Bulls team has youth on it`s side. This could be the best team in the league for the next 8 years at least.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    i just dont wanna see Bron AND Bosh sign with Bulls or Heat togheder cause thats too much. my wishes: NYK-Bron, STAT CHI-JJohnson, Boozer MIA-Bosh, Rudy Gay. That would be the perfect balanca to make the East repectable again!

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    @Sean: oh Wade is a distributor, more than Rose for sure!

  • Sean

    You obviously don`t watch the Bulls play that often.

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Negetivekreep

    LeBron is the most dominant player in the game right now & I hate to go all captain oubvious, but we are all speculating about where HE is going right? That being said, it’s rediculous to me that anyone especially Jukai would believe that. #1, Being in the ultimate drivers seat, LeBron would be willing to scoot over to shotgun for D-Wade or anyone. And #2, That Pat Riley or anyother coach or organization bidding for LeBron would Want him as a secondary option, Scoring/closing/ect. That idea is crazy to me, also Have we forgotten the size of this guys ego? And don’t think he’s going to be soo easily manipulated by D-Wade, who unlike LeBron has made it clear that he wants to stay at home, and has tried to plant negative seeds in brons head about Chicago. Thru this whole thing Wade’s been wearing his feelings on his sleeve, while Brons had on his poker face. After quitting on the funky bunch because he had zero confidence in them to show up when it counted, to me, LeBron showed that he’s looking for control. A solid team he can have confidence in, that won’t choke. But thiers no doubt in my mind that he wants to be the LEADER of said squad, after all wasn’t he the self appointed leader of the redeem team? Chicago is still the more Battle tested playoff team that’s litterally a “Lebron” away from being the #1 contender in the east. Cant say the same thing about Miami.

  • Sporting-Lisbon-Blazers

    dude i swear I´ve watched them like 50 games this season, as I did the Heat, and Rose is a scoring point, a great one for sure but not a distributor…as Wade is a playmaking SG, like Brandon Roy. Put great players with Wade and he´ll average like 7 assists, while getting his 25pts

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    The Bulls with Bron and Bosh is not going to be a winner either, people have to understand these guys are all young they know that only one team wins a championship every year so why would they risk their own legacy, their own individual accomplishments to maybe win a title. What if it doesn’t work out? Rose and Bron need the ball to be successful and their is no way Rose can play off the ball, Bosh would be averaging like 17 and 10 on this team maybe less where as with one guy like Wade or Joe Johnson he could be averaging 25 and 12, being an all-star every year, getting MVP consideration then just being a ring and like two awards away from Hall Of Fame consideration. People should know that if Bosh and LeBron go to Miami to play with Wade his stats may be so low that he doesn’t make the All-Star game. It should be a 1-2 punch thing and it would work better basketball wise.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
Advertisement