Dwyane Wade is biggest reason why LeBron James should play in Miami

By Israel Gutierrez
igutierrez@MiamiHerald.com

The question no longer begins with the word ``if'' but ``where.''

It no longer seems like a debate about whether LeBron James will leave Cleveland via free agency this summer, especially when he talks about his personal team's ``game plan'' and speaks of his relationship with Cavaliers fans in the past tense just minutes after his somewhat surprising ousting in the conference semifinals.

It's the question of where he will end up that has absolutely taken over sports conversations across the country.

Within that conversation, Miami as a LeDestination seems mostly like an afterthought, with the glamour of New York running in first, and Chicago a close second because of the quality of the roster.

Consider this, then, the ultimate case for James to make Miami his new basketball home. It makes far too much sense to simply be considered a secondary possibility.

Let's start with the obvious. The ability to play with Dwyane Wade every day and create, almost beyond argument, the best pairing of wing players the league has ever seen (don't bother with the Michael Jordan argument because Scottie Pippen is nowhere near the player either one of these two is) should be enough to make the Heat his primary option.

WHAT HE WANTS

If it is true that James is about winning first, as he insisted in his postgame, post-series, post-Cleveland interview Thursday, then this is an automatic. If his obvious frustration with Cavs teammates and their inability to function without him is a driving force for LeBron, then playing alongside Wade will offer him exactly what he desires.

When you consider that the Heat can sell a player like Michael Beasley to a team with salary-cap space to create enough space to sign a third substantial star, possibly a big man like an Amare Stoudemire or Carlos Boozer, then it only makes Miami more intriguing because of the real possibility a true dynasty can exist.

There are two arguments against Miami that tend to dominate, neither of them making much sense.

The first tends to be ego. As in, James' ego won't let him come to Wade's town and not be the obvious attraction.

It might be Wade's town, but in basketball terms, it's LeBron's world, as Kevin Garnett confirmed after Thursday's game. It has been for a half decade, practically, and sharing space with Wade can only help his global takeover because it'll finally offer him that championship that has escaped him.

No matter where he goes, James will not play second fiddle. Besides, it's practically necessary these days, when you think about it, to have a player of similarly superstar caliber by your side. Kobe Bryant had arguably the best post player in the league, at the time, helping him win each of his four titles, first Shaquille O'Neal and now Pau Gasol. No one does this alone.

The other argument against the Heat is the concept of James and Wade not being able to play well together.

More nonsense.

They play different positions. They have different games. They both can dominate with the ball in their hands, but they both enjoy playing off the ball as well.

Wade was the leading scorer on the Olympic team despite almost never being the primary ballhandler. James is a playmaker who can average double-figure assists with a teammate like Wade.

For both players, playing with this kind of talent alongside will be breath of fresh air, not any sort of conflict.

By the way, for those who remain concerned Wade could bolt Miami, check out a recent video posted on Twitter of him responding to his Heat fans online. Not the act of a man preparing to abandon ship.

RILEY COULD COACH

There also remains the very real possibility that Pat Riley could coach the duo if they team up, which would take the uncertainty of the coaching situation out of the equation. That uncertainty would be there if James chooses to stay in Cleveland, or if he chooses Chicago or New Jersey and their vacant coaching seats, or even if he chooses New York given Mike D'Antoni's incomplete track record and inability/unwillingness to coach defense.

It might be premature to consider LeBron a former Cavalier. It has, after all, only been hours since his season ended and his thoughts officially transferred to his future plans.

But it's never too early to plant the seed. He can't find a better teammate than he can here. Not Derrick Rose. Not Chris Bosh.

So when you ask ``where,'' Miami should be LePlace.