Wade to meet with Knicks, Bulls, and Mavs

Pete Chilcutt · Jun 28, 2010

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-free-agency-s062810,0,12817.story

The Miami Heat just might win a triple crown.

A source close to Dwyane Wade said the Heat guard believes his team is poised to pull off a free-agency coup of landing himself, Cleveland Cavaliers guard LeBron James and Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

However that same source, as well as a party inside the league, told the Sun Sentinel that Wade also plans to cover himself during the initial days of the free-agency negotiating period by scheduling interviews with the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and, in somewhat of a surprise, the Dallas Mavericks.

While the Knicks and Bulls, like the Heat, have the salary-cap space to sign multiple top-tier free agents, the Mavericks do not have available cap space this offseason and would need to complete a sign-and-trade agreement with the Heat to add Wade.

In addition, while there has been speculation that a James arrival in South Florida would mean Pat Riley again returning to coach the team, a party close to Wade indicated that James would be receptive to working with Erik Spoelstra, who is scheduled to begin his third season as Heat coach.

While free-agent negotiations are allowed to begin July 1, teams are not allowed to reach binding free-agent agreements until July 8.

Although speculation on a Wade-James-Bosh pairing has centered on each of the three taking less than maximum salaries to make the math work, one NBA team executive told the Sun Sentinel Monday that it was his belief that not all of the players involved are receptive to such an approach.

Regardless, in order to accommodate Wade and two other signings near their maximum free-agent salary of roughly $16.6 million, the Heat would have to trade second-year forward Michael Beasley. A league executive said he felt Riley, in his role as Heat president, would be able to find such a suitor on short notice, if he does not already have one lined up.

Counting a re-signed Wade, the Heat currently has roughly $27 million available in salary-cap space, with Beasley still on its 2010-11 payroll. There also is a chance of adjusting the buyout of forward James Jones, which could slightly boost the amount of available salary-cap space. Jones must be waived or traded by Wednesday for the non-buyout portion of his 2010-11 salary not to count against the salary cap.

By league rule, the Heat is not allowed to comment on outside free agents until July 1. However, with so many moving parts, any ensuing discussion could hinder the team's ability to move on backup plans, such as Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson and Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer.

Riley and a Heat contingent is expected to meet with James at the end of this week in Ohio.

As for Bosh, who spent this past weekend in South Florida, Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo said Monday in a radio interview that he now expects to lose the forward in free agency.

The buzz of a potential Wade-James-Bosh grouping was felt at the team's offseason workout camp Monday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

"Anybody could do a lot with that," said 2009 second-round pick Patrick Beverley, the guard out of Arkansas who spent this past season in the Greek League. "That would be great. You can just throw the ball up and anybody go get it. I definitely hope those guys come here. That puts us in a position not to be a good team but to be a championship team. Who knows?"

Da'Sean Butler, the forward out of West Virginia taken in the second round of last week's NBA Draft, also was intrigued.

"There's a potential chance we could get an NBA championship and that would be my first year here," he said. "I'm praying."
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A_3PO · Jun 28, 2010

This is silly. After the way he blasted them, everybody knows Wade won't sign with the Bulls. It's all a dumb charade.

tinywang · Jun 28, 2010

hmmm, i wonder what people would want less...

wade going to knicks and thus not playing for mavs
or
wade going to mavs and therefore increasing the value of our ny picks

Dave2000 · Jun 29, 2010

can't wait for Mavs fans reaction of trying to get Wade after he single handling took care of them in 06 Finals

got em COACH · Jun 29, 2010

Mann all this FA publicity is getting out of hand. It's like who to vote for prom queen all over again.

k-money · Jun 29, 2010

Dave2000 said:

can't wait for Mavs fans reaction of trying to get Wade after he single handling took care of them in 06 Finals
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im sure right now the mavs dont want wade as they are packed at the position, but if houston trys to get wade some mavs fan will make a wade to mavericks song and cuban will try and get wade.

jopatmc · Jun 29, 2010

k-money said:

im sure right now the mavs dont want wade as they are packed at the position, but if houston trys to get wade some mavs fan will make a wade to mavericks song and cuban will try and get wade.
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That's crazy. The Mavs would take Wade before you could say "shoot".

rockbox · Jun 29, 2010

The NBA needs a hard cap. This FA stuff is getting ridiculous.

JeeberD · Jun 29, 2010

k-money said:

im sure right now the mavs dont want wade as they are packed at the position, but if houston trys to get wade some mavs fan will make a wade to mavericks song and cuban will try and get wade.
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The Mavs are packed at SG? Really?

R0ckets03 · Jun 29, 2010

k-money said:

im sure right now the mavs dont want wade as they are packed at the position, but if houston trys to get wade some mavs fan will make a wade to mavericks song and cuban will try and get wade.
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What the hell are you smoking and where do I get some?

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Wade to meet with Knicks, Bulls, and Mavs

Pete Chilcutt Member

A_3PO Member

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Dave2000 Member

got em COACH Member

k-money Member

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rockbox Around before clutchcity.com

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