Quiet day in NBA to sort out some issues

LeBron James took the floor with a new teammate Monday - point guard Chris Paul.

No, James didn't shock the world by committing to the New Orleans Hornets. He took part in opening day of the LeBron James Skills Academy in Akron, Ohio. The camp, sponsored by Nike, is billed as having the nation's top 80 high school players.

James and Paul played on the same side during a pickup game, according to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. For potential clue seekers, James showed up wearing a New York Yankees hat.

Dwyane Wade, meanwhile, will host a three-day basketball camp for kids starting Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He met with Heat owner Micky Arison on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Neither player offered a decision on where he will sign as a free agent.

So with another day of waiting in store, let's examine some of the questions worth asking as the Bulls wonder if one of the NBA's superstars is headed their way:

Q. Is Wade really serious about considering the Bulls?A. I think so, even though he repeatedly pledged allegiance to Miami during the past few months. Some NBA insiders have questioned the strength of the relationship between Wade and Heat president Pat Riley. That could become a subplot in the coming days.Riley has talked about returning as coach if the Heat succeeded in bringing Wade, James and Chris Bosh to Miami. One NBA source said he has heard Wade has little interest in playing for Riley again, so that idea could backfire even if it is a longshot.Wade has seven seasons and one championship invested in the Heat, so it will be tough for him to leave. He does have an inviting situation in Chicago, though, with a more complete roster in place and a chance to play in his hometown.Q. Could Bosh help steer Wade to Chicago?A. Bosh and Wade appeared to be pretty tight as they hung out for two nights in Chicago last week, so there is a good chance they'll decide to join forces.Bosh has mentioned a few times that he wants to play power forward, his self-proclaimed natural position, not center.He wouldn't need to play to center on the Bulls because of Joakim Noah (and Omer Asik for the more optimistic fans). At the moment, Miami doesn't have a center, though it did give a qualifying offer to Joel Anthony.So it's possible Bosh could tell Wade he'd love to be a teammate but would prefer Chicago over Miami. Chances are, the two already have spent time debating the merits of those teams.Q. Do the Bulls' chances of landing James improve the longer he waits?A. There has been speculation that James won't announce a decision until at least Wednesday night, after his camp ends.Some people have asked if that's a clue he's planning to leave. He wouldn't want to announce his departure in the middle of camp duties in Akron. But if he's going to stay, why not go ahead and say something now?Really, though, there is no way of knowing. The Bulls are a top contender and James is intrigued by the possibility, but it will be difficult to leave his hometown.Q. Will Wade's quest to gain custody of his two sons play a role in his decision?A. Absolutely, although it's not clear if playing in Chicago would help his cause. A court hearing is scheduled for July 19.His ex-wife, Siohvaughn, lives in the Chicago area, so Wade's desire to spend more time with his kids could lead him back home.Q. Has Toronto soured on working out a sign-and-trade for Bosh?A. There have been several reports along those lines, but the Raptors are going to do what's best for their team, so there is no reason to rule it out.The Toronto papers have suggested the Raptors won't take back Miami's Michael Beasley in a sign-and-trade, one of only two players the Heat currently has under contract. It's possible the Raptors would be more receptive to draft picks and a traded-player exception for Bosh.The Bulls are in a similar situation. The Raptors may be averse to taking Luol Deng's expensive contract. But the Bulls could get Bosh close to a maximum salary by sending Taj Gibson, James Johnson and draft picks to Toronto.It's difficult to imagine the Raptors wouldn't take that deal, but it's all up to Bosh. If he tells Toronto he will go ahead and sign for five years with the Bulls or Miami, the Raptors figure to take what they can get in a sign-and-trade.Q. Does the extra $30 million a free agent could get by re-signing with his own team really make a difference?A. It depends on the player. But the biggest reason for the discrepancy is a player can get a six-year deal by re-signing with his current team, but only a five-year deal by joining a new team.If that player retires after five years, then, yes, he'd lose $30 million in guaranteed money compared to what he could have gotten in a six-year deal.If that player signs a new contract after the fifth season, the difference between the two contract options drops considerably. For a top player like James or Wade, it's probably not a big deal. Winning championships could pay off more.Q. Could both James and Wade end up with the Bulls?A. Doubtful. They'll probably talk to each other this week, though, about their plans. The Bulls can only hope they won't mutually agree to bypass the Chicago option.Both players have the opportunity to form a potential Eastern Conference power by joining either Bosh or Carlos Boozer on the Bulls. The one who stays put might have a better chance of getting to the Finals if the other one does not choose the Bulls.Q. What should the Bulls do if they don't land James or Wade?A. First, they'll try to lock up one of the power forwards - Bosh, Carlos Boozer or David Lee. Remember when there seemed to be little chance of James joining the Bulls, signing Bosh or Boozer would have been viewed as a successful summer.Now there's a vacancy at shooting guard, though. I'd recommend the Bulls pursue free agents Shannon Brown, Kyle Korver, Ray Allen, Roger Mason and Randy Foye, in that order. Tough to tell who might be available in a trade.False15422000Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, joking with Miami Heat guard Dwyane WadeAssociated PressFalse <div class="infoBox"><h1>More Coverage</h1><div class="infoBoxContent"><div class="infoArea"><h2>Stories</h2><ul class="links"><li><a href="/story/?id=392118">LeBron would do well to remember that home is where the heart is <span class="date">[07/06/10]</span></a></li></ul></div></div></div>