Chicago bound?

You always have to take what ESPN.com's Chad Ford says with a grain of salt because he once wrote "Darko is Europe's version of LeBron James" (and I guess Milicic does have more rings than LeBron does) but his report today is a shocker: according to a source (which could just be some cab driver on Michigan Ave.), Dwyane Wade is leaning toward signing with the Bulls.

Everyone has assumed all along that D-Wade would re-sign with Miami but he met with the Bulls yesterday and is now going to visit them again tonight. If this happens, it would be quite a 180--not long ago, Wade was critical of Bulls management, wondering why Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are no longer a part of the organization. Apparently, something eased his mind on that when he visited the team yesterday in Chicago (and while Jordan clearly wouldn't be a part of a recruitment effort to Chicago since he now owns the Charlotte Bobcats, there have been rumors that Pippen is involved in the Bulls recruitment pitch).

While we may all be shocked that Wade would leave the Heat, it shouldn't be surprising that he is strongly considering the Bulls. He is from the south side of Chicago and grew up idolizing and cheering for the Jordan-Pippen-Phil Jackson dynasty. His mother still lives there, as does his child from his just-ended marriage.

The Bulls are meeting with LeBron tomorrow and met with Chris Bosh today (and Carlos Boozer too!). Things really are becoming now. Would Wade be able to partner up with either LeBron or Bosh in Chicago?

While no one will be more devastated by Wade going to Chicago than Miami (which probably would get no one of consequence if Wade leaves, causing Pat Riley to submit his resignation), no one would be more happy than Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert, especially if Bosh goes with him. If the Wade-Bosh combo commits to the Bulls, then LeBron would lose a suitor and most have felt all along that LeBron was most likely to sign with Chicago or stay in Cleveland.

UPDATE (5:17 pm): Comcast Sportsnet Chicago has confirmed that Wade and Bosh, who are both represented by agent Henry Thomas, are currently meeting with the Bulls (with Thomas present as well). Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! reports that the Bulls are hoping to have a committment from Wade lined up to take with them to their meeting with LeBron tomorrow, although Wade would be fine with partnering up with Bosh in Chicago as well. Wojnarowski also details that LeBron and Wade would like to play together but LeBron is dubious about doing it in Miami, probably because the Heat only have Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers currently under contract.

And Knicks fans: Wojnarowksi reports that the Knicks are pretty much out of the LeBron derby after an unimpressive presentation that lacked organization. Which pretty much sums up the entire last decade for the Knicks.

UPDATE (7:54 pm): Chad Ford updates his initial report and Tweets that after his meeting with the Bulls, Wade is on the fence about whether to go to Chicago or stay in Miami. No committment was made, however. Wojnarowksi reports that the Bulls tried to push for a committment but were unsuccessful. However, they remain committed to trying to get two of the LeBron-Wade-Bosh triumvirate to come to Chicago, if not all three.

And not sure how this would necessarily affect this whole Chicago-Miami tug-of-war but ESPN's Chris Sheridan reports to hold those horses on the Joe Johnson max deal to re-sign in Atlanta. Sheridan reports Johnson hasn't committed to the Hawks and won't until he sees what the other max-level guys do (it's amazing that Johnson is considered a max-level guy). Apparently the Bulls and Knicks are still very much in play.