Report: Lebron, along with Bosh, leaning towards the Bulls

[mahonedog88]

Here's the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5333896

Basically, it says that Lebron will be meeting with New York and New Jersey more just out of courtesy since they've cleared so much cap space.  But overall, both Lebron and Bosh are leaning strongly towards the Bulls.

One executive even said "I think it's a done deal"

Tom Thibideau may be the luckiest man alive.  I mean...you can't go wrong with a starting five of:

PG-Derrick Rose
SG-player to still be signed OR moving Luol Deng to the 2 guard spot
SF-Lebron James
PF-Chris Bosh
C-Joakim Noah

Jeez, talk about high expectations.  If this is true and it ends up happening, can these bulls live up to the hype like we did in the '07 season?

[FallGuy]

Here's the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5333896

Basically, it says that Lebron will be meeting with New York and New Jersey more just out of courtesy since they've cleared so much cap space.  But overall, both Lebron and Bosh are leaning strongly towards the Bulls.

One executive even said "I think it's a done deal"

Tom Thibideau may be the luckiest man alive.  I mean...you can't go wrong with a starting five of:

PG-Derrick Rose
SG-player to still be signed OR moving Luol Deng to the 2 guard spot
SF-Lebron James
PF-Chris Bosh
C-Joakim Noah

Jeez, talk about high expectations.  If this is true and it ends up happening, can these bulls live up to the hype like we did in the '07 season?

It's premature, I think, even if Chicago is the most likely destination.

Are both Bosh and LBJ gonna leave $30M on the table to sign with the Bulls? Not convinced of that. Feels like Chicago may have to give up some assets in sign-and-trades to get this done. Unless Bosh and Bron decide they'll both take lesser salaries (and/or sign for only three years apiece) to facilitate what would be, admittedly, a superb team.

[Dr H]

I think they can live up to expectations. The only real "weakness" on that team is a lack of a pass first point guard. Other then that they would have a great post threat(2 of them), great pg, and a great wing. Only thing they would need is a great outside threat to spread the floor.

[hpantazo]

it looks like the FA chips are falling into place. If Lebron and Bosh go to chicago, which is what looks like will happen, Joe Johnson and Amare most likely go to NY, which the Knicks also said they are targeting (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5334060), and Wade and Boozer would then end up in Miami. That leaves Miami with $$ to sign some more FA's, and it leaves the Nyets as this summer's big losers.

[hpantazo]

I think they can live up to expectations. The only real "weakness" on that team is a lack of a pass first point guard. Other then that they would have a great post threat(2 of them), great pg, and a great wing. Only thing they would need is a great outside threat to spread the floor.

Ray Allen?

[FallGuy]

From RealGM:

An NBA general manager reportedly told Jon Rothstein of MSG Network that Chris Bosh will certainly sign with the Heat as a free agent.

"This has been planned for a long time," the GM said. "Chris is going to Miami."
Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67488/20100627/gm_bosh_going_to_miami_planned_for_a_long_time/#ixzz0s5SlKRvg

If this is what ends up happening - presumably Bosh goes to Miami in a S&T for Beasley.

[Roy Hobbs]

The thing about "leaving $30 million" on the table is that the vast majority of that is the salary in the sixth year of the deal.  While an extra year of security is always a good thing, a large part of that $30 million will presumably be made up in the next deal that Lebron and/or Bosh sign.

Anyway, that proposed is poorly constructed in that it lacks shooters, but with that much talent, it probably doesn't matter a whole heck of a lot.

[celticinorlando]

LBJ and stoudmire or LBJ and bosh to the bulls

[Finkelskyhook]

LBJ and stoudmire or LBJ and bosh to the bulls

The messiah isn't Jordan or Bird.  The more stars he gets on his team the better off the rest of the league is.  

The messiah needs to dominate the basketball.

Teaming with a true PG like Rose would be a disaster for the messiah.

There aren't enough basketballs to go around for the messiah, Rose, Bosh and/or (especially) Stoudemire.

[the_Bird]

it looks like the FA chips are falling into place. If Lebron and Bosh go to chicago, which is what looks like will happen, Joe Johnson and Amare most likely go to NY, which the Knicks also said they are targeting (http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=5334060), and Wade and Boozer would then end up in Miami. That leaves Miami with $$ to sign some more FA's, and it leaves the Nyets as this summer's big losers.

If New York's tanking of the past two seasons results in them giving max contracts to Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudamire, they're losers, too.  Not as bad as New Jersey, but that's got to be considered a failure.  Joe Johnson's pretty good but closer in caliber to Danny Granger than he is to D-Wade or LeBron.  Amare *should* be a dominant player, but isn't.

Heck, the Knicks will be the Suns of a couple years ago, only without Steve Nash.

[snively]

Rose/LeBron/Deng/Bosh/Noah?

Would be very difficult to match-up with that team.

They'd probably have to move Deng for some perimeter shooting and depth.

[Mencius]

I think they can live up to expectations. The only real "weakness" on that team is a lack of a pass first point guard. Other then that they would have a great post threat(2 of them), great pg, and a great wing. Only thing they would need is a great outside threat to spread the floor.

Ray Allen?

Ray would fit absolutely perfectly with that bunch.  Thing is, I think he wants more than MLE, and the maybe he'd get it if we S&T him for Deng, although I think Deng is somewhat overpaid.

[FallGuy]

Rose/LeBron/Deng/Bosh/Noah?

Would be very difficult to match-up with that team.

They'd probably have to move Deng for some perimeter shooting and depth.

If they could find a way to add a starting 2-guard who played tenacious perimeter D and could hit a jumper, they'd be golden.

[the_Bird]

Here's the story

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=5333896

Basically, it says that Lebron will be meeting with New York and New Jersey more just out of courtesy since they've cleared so much cap space.  But overall, both Lebron and Bosh are leaning strongly towards the Bulls.

One executive even said "I think it's a done deal"

Tom Thibideau may be the luckiest man alive.  I mean...you can't go wrong with a starting five of:

PG-Derrick Rose
SG-player to still be signed OR moving Luol Deng to the 2 guard spot
SF-Lebron James
PF-Chris Bosh
C-Joakim Noah

Jeez, talk about high expectations.  If this is true and it ends up happening, can these bulls live up to the hype like we did in the '07 season?

Just to step back for a second....

Cleveland blew up in the playoffs, but for most of the season they were the best team in the league.  

This proposed Chicago lineup....

Rose >>>>> Williams
Bosh >>>>> Jamison
Noah >>> Shaq, and >> Sideshow
Deng >>>> Anyone that Cleveland had on their bench

They'd still need a 2-guard, but you wouldn't have to look that hard to find one that's better than Delonte/Boobie/Anthony Parker.  

Every position around LeBron would be significantly better than last year's supporting cast.  Thibs has got to be a better coach than Mike Brown.  Bench would still need to be fleshed out, but I can't imagine they'd have trouble getting some decent players to sign up for whatever money they've got left.  

Chicago's not New York, but it's still one of the biggest media markets in the country.  Much better place to live than New Jersey (or Cleveland).

How could you possibly go back to Cleveland?

Ain't an old guy in the bunch, either.  That's not a squad that has a built-in expiration date, like the C's of three years ago.  That squad could be hella good for a long time.

[RJ87]

From RealGM:

An NBA general manager reportedly told Jon Rothstein of MSG Network that Chris Bosh will certainly sign with the Heat as a free agent.

"This has been planned for a long time," the GM said. "Chris is going to Miami."
Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/67488/20100627/gm_bosh_going_to_miami_planned_for_a_long_time/#ixzz0s5SlKRvg

If this is what ends up happening - presumably Bosh goes to Miami in a S&T for Beasley.

I'm inclined to go with ESPN over realgm... Honestly, Bosh hasn't exactly been subtle in that he's interested in teaming up with LBJ.

If Chicago gets a legit shooter.... wow. That would be a difficult team to beat.