Henry Thomas, the agent for both Bosh and Wade, did not return calls or e-mails early Wednesday from The Associated Press. Calls to Wade and two representatives for the 2006 NBA finals MVP also were not returned. The ESPN report did not specify if Bosh was simply signing with Miami or if a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors would occur.
"I have nothing official from anyone," Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo said Wednesday morning in a text message to The Associated Press.
The Raptors do have several sign-and-trade options from teams interested in acquiring Bosh.
If Bosh signs, which can't happen until Thursday at the earliest, it would be a huge coup for the Heat. Wade said when free agency began that he would likely only stay in Miami if the Heat lured either Bosh or LeBron James to South Florida.
Bosh averaged career-bests of 24.0 points and 10.8 rebounds last season for Toronto.
Miami came into the free-agent period with around $44 million of cap space, not including $16 million or so earmarked for Wade, thanks to years of avoiding just about any deal where money would have been committed for the 2010-11 season.
"We want to build a dynasty," Heat president Pat Riley had told fans entering free agency.
Bosh and Wade would be a pretty good start.
They share an agent, were Olympic teammates on the gold-medal team in Beijing, dined together at times during the free-agent interview process last week in Chicago and were part of that star-studded draft class in 2003 — Bosh went fourth, Wade fifth.
Now all eyes turn to the No. 1 pick in that class, LeBron James. The two-time MVP plans to say which team he'll play for next on ESPN Thursday night.
Bosh, Wade and James have talked about playing together. If that plan is to be truly hatched, it would have to happen in Miami.
The Heat lack the salary-cap space to give Bosh, Wade and James all the maximum amounts they would be entitled to receive in their next contracts, so what would likely happen — again, if the scenario came together — was each player agreeing to take a bit less in base salary for 2010-11. If that happens, then they would probably receive contracts allowing them to become free agents again in three years if they wanted.
Miami does have the room to give Bosh and Wade max deals, although would still have to do some bargain-shopping to fill its roster for the coming year, with only Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers under contract now for 2010-11.
The expectation around the Heat for months — for years, really — was that Wade would have a flirtation with free agency, then return to Miami for a six-year contract that could have been worth around $127 million, maybe a bit more or less depending on what the salary cap number for the coming 2010-11 season is.
Wade fed that assumption, saying countless times that he wanted to stay in Miami if the roster was upgraded to a championship-contending level. That rather ambiguous caveat took a more exact shape in recent days, and the Heat were clearly on edge when Wade took two meetings with the Chicago Bulls, his hometown team.
Days later, Wade will be apparently able to say he got what he wanted all along.
In Orlando, Florida, the Orlando Magic tried to sign Chris Duhon in free agency two years ago only to watch him go to New York.
They finally got their man Tuesday.
Duhon reached an agreement with the Magic for a $15 million, four-year deal, his agent said. Teams can't officially sign free agents until Thursday.
Agent Kevin Bradbury told The Associated Press that the chance to play for a championship contender was enough to sway Duhon to the Magic this time. Duhon fills a much-needed role behind starter Jameer Nelson and could step into the starting spot should an injury occur.
"The last time Chris was a free agent, the Magic obviously pursued him hard," Bradbury said. "Chris didn't forget that, and he has a lot of respect for that team. The Magic called right away."
ESPN.com first reported the deal.
Duhon spent the last two years starting for the New York Knicks, never really living up to expectations and falling out of favor with coach Mike D'Antoni. He averaged 7.4 points and 5.6 assists per game last season.
Duhon's first four seasons came with the Chicago Bulls, who drafted him in 2004. The Magic tried to sign Duhon in 2008 before he went to New York.
Magic general manager Otis Smith said the Knicks' offer back then - a two-year deal worth more than $11 million - was more than he was willing to spend. Even though he had little success with the Knicks, Smith said playing with All-Star center Dwight Howard should open up Duhon's game.
"I think if maybe he had to do it over again, it may be a different situation," Smith said. "And here we are two years later and him having to do it all over again, and he still fits as well as he did before.
"I think our style of play will help him. We're not really that different (from New York). But the difference here is he has the big fella inside to help him out."
The former Duke standout could also reunite with J.J. Redick , a restricted free agent who Orlando is hoping to retain. The Magic, who will be over the luxury tax for the second straight season, have little wiggle room in free agency.
