Two huge announcements that came within nine hours of one another have sent shockwaves that continue to reverberate throughout the National Basketball Association and, particularly, Madison Square Garden as it relates to 2010 NBA free agency.
Early Wednesday morning, according to ESPN.com, NBA Insider Chris Broussard learned through independent sources that LeBron James is planning to announce the team with which he will sign during a one-hour special on ESPN Thursday night.
At the time, ESPN would only confirm that active discussions for the special were ongoing. But sources told Broussard that representatives for James contacted the network, proposing that James makes his announcement during a 9PM ET special.
Those sources said that James' representatives requested they be allowed to sell sponsorship for the one-hour special, with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and that ESPN agreed to the proposal but had not been told what James has decided.
Since this information became public, it has been confirmed that James will indeed officially announce his free agency intentions Thursday night on ESPN as part of a one-hour special called 'The Decision'. The program is scheduled to air at 9PM ET.
Coming on the heels of the aforementioned news came word that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will be joining forces in South Beach.
According to a separate ESPN.com report, NBA Insider Chris Broussard has learned through sources that Wade and Bosh are expected to announce they will sign with the Miami Heat regardless of LeBron James' final decision.
Wade, a six-time All-Star, will be re-signing with the club that selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft while Miami will sign Bosh, a five-time All-Star and the fourth overall pick in the 2003 Draft, as an unrestricted free agent or acquire him through a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. Bosh could earn $125 million over six years via sign-and-trade, but only $96 million over five without it.
The announcement of the respective decisions by Wade and Bosh is expected to come Wednesday afternoon, which will lead to tremendous debate and speculation about where LeBron James will be headed; a point of special interest for the New York Knicks.
With an agreement in place for Amar’e Stoudemire to come to New York, ‘The King’ has options before him that could change the landscape of the league for several years to come.
The two most attractive options appear to be joining Wade and Bosh in Miami to form a new ‘Big Three’, the likes of which, arguably, has never been seen in the league, or forming a tandem with Amar’e Stoudemire in the Big Apple that will rival the Heat’s dynamic duo.
However, a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers and signing with the Chicago Bulls or the New Jersey Nets can still be viewed as viable alternatives as well.
Ultimately though, LeBron James will be viewed as a leader or a follower depending on which team he decides to play for next season.
More specifically, James can be leader in New York or a follower in Miami.
Stay tuned.
Click here to read the original article on Examiner.com, which includes relevant links and a special video presentation featuring Dwyane Wade and LeBron James.
Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade in Miami; NY Knicks Left to Wonder About LeBron James
