Sedano Says

LeBron recruiting Ray Allen for Heat Dream Team?

Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (IMO: the best hoops guy in his town) has an interesting tidbit in his column this morning.

LeBron James is calling the possible union of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and of course, the King himself, "Dream Team."

Those were the words James used when he reached out to another free agent in the past 10 days and pitched the idea of joining them.

"He said, 'Would you be willing to take less to join Dream Team?'" the player, who did not want to be identified, told the Daily News. "He said his people were putting it together."

I've come across a source who has told me that free agent player could be Ray Allen. The source tells me that Allen has spoken to James and his preference is to remain with the Celtics, but that's predicated on Paul Pierce remaining with the team. The money is not a huge factor. Winning more championships is the most important factor.

According to the source, Allen has spoken to James and would consider joining said, "Dream Team." Along with possibly taking less money if it was the perfect opportunity.

(I'm going to assume that some, if not all the BIG 3 will take less than the max in this scenario).

One last factor the source close to Allen mentioned was that Ray's mother lives in Orlando, and he would not mind being closer to his family.

This makes a ton of sense.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo had this story weeks ago about Pat Riley's interest in Allen.

It's also, the only missing piece of the puzzle, a shooter.

Chris Mannix who covers the NBA for Sports Illustrated, made that point on my show this morning.

(click on link below)

Mannix1

The rumor mill is at warp speed right now.

Even my colleague Dan Le Batard (who I dubbed Cuban A. Smith) has gotten into the act via his twitter account.

He tweeted that he's hearing Bosh-to-Miami in a sign-and-trade with the Raptors has been agreed to in principle, with Michael Beasley and others being shipped to Toronto.

Finally, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has an excellent article on the Heat's plans. Which include Carlos Boozer if Bosh falls through.

Now, you can all go back to your regularly scheduled speculation.

Thank You!

JS

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

Wade, LBJ, Bosh Summit didn't happen in Miami

ESPN is reporting that Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh had a meeting about their futures right here in Miami.

790 The Ticket has learned via Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald that Dwyane Wade was not even in Miami this weekend.

(UPDATE) Bosh & Wade's agent Henry Thomas has denied the ESPN report to Michael Wallace the Miami Herald.

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald had this article in yesterday's edition where he interviewed Wade at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

790 The Ticket's Jorge Sedano has learned that Wade's itinerary beginning Thursday went like this...

Thursday: Las Vegas

Friday: Chicago (in court to wrap divorce case)

Saturday: Still in Chicago, "Taste of Chicago" w/ kids, Saturday night dropped kids off at new ex-wife

Sunday: All day in Chicago, met w/Mike Wallace at O'Hare

Sunday night - flew back from CHI to destination X

Wade is currently at undisclosed destination on vacation to set his professional agenda.

So, the reality is that IF these players met anywhere it was last week on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

It could not have been Thursday because Chris Bosh was making the rounds through the ESPN car wash.

(UPDATE: They did not meet in Vegas).

The good news is if you're a Heat fan, that the Stephen A. Smith story seems to be on the money up to this point.

You can now return to your regularly scheduled speculation.

Thank You!

JS

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

More signs pointing Chris Bosh to Miami

The New York Times reported on Sunday that an NBA Executive told the newspaper that LeBron James and Chris Bosh were heading to Chicago. “I think it’s a done deal,” the executive said.

Henry Thomas who represents both Bosh & Dwyane Wade spoke to NBA.com about the rumors swirling about his client joining the Bulls.

“Completely untrue,” Bosh’s agent Henry Thomas told NBA.com via email. “He hasn’t decided anything.”

Stephen A. Smith reported this morning (my conversation with him in this blog) that Bosh and LeBron would join the Heat.

Even, Jon Rothstein of MSG and ESPN 1050 in New York tweeted about a conversation he had with a current NBA GM. 

The GM told Rothstein, "This has been planned for a long time," the GM said. "Chris is going to Miami"

Again, all this talk is fluid. Though, it has to make you feel pretty good if you're a Heat fan.

I'll have another blog about Pat Riley sometime tomorrow.

Make sure to bookmark the page and come back for updates.

Have nice night!

JS

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

(UPDATE) Stephen A. Smith - Miami to land LeBron and Bosh

We interrupt this vacation to report that the NBA Free Agent frenzy has begun!

Stephen A. Smith of Fox Sports Radio  and the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that LeBron James and Chris Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami this upcoming season.

I will be speaking with Stephen A. Smith momentarily and update this story.

So, please check back frequently for an update.

UPDATE!

Okay, just got off the phone with Stephen A. Smith.

Here's how the conversation went.

JS: So, what is the genesis of the report?

SAS: I spoke to my source and felt comfortable enough to go with my report. The report is that LeBron James has basically decided that he's going to South Beach. Dwyane Wade has done a nice job recruiting him and it would be the best way to win multiple championships.

As far as Chris Bosh, it was a forgone conclusion that he was going there (Miami) or Dallas. It's going to be Miami, because that's where he wants to be. I reported months ago, that I thought Bosh would end up there.

It was a matter of what Pat Riley wanted. It was either going to be Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire and Pat riley would rather have Chris Bosh.

Now, two scenarios are at play. Either all three of these guys take less money to make it work or there will have to be a sign & trade somewhere. Here's how that conversation went.

JS: Who's more likely to walk without needing a sign & trade?

SAS: LeBron is willing to walk -- the Cavaliers are not inclined to help LeBron bye any stretch. If they lose LeBron there nothing they can do -- they might as well start from scratch. They will have lost a superstar and a home grown product.

Again, this is highly likely. With LeBron you can't be 100 percent sure. As this report circulates the pressure on LeBron will mount and with a guy as fickle as him I wouldn't say anything is a done deal until he signs.

For Toronto, losing Chris Bosh is not as devastating. If you can get something of quality in return you pull the trigger.

A max deal needs to be more important to Chris Bosh because of the endorsement dollars -- those dollars -- they're funneling in to Lebron and Dwyane Wade. It would behoove him to get those extra 30 million to make up the money he would not be getting in endorsements.

If there's a sign & trade for Bosh -- then Michael Beasley (who is signed through this upcoming season -- team option in 2011) would have to be part of that transaction. 

Now, Stephen A. Smith told me he didn't know yet if Toronto would be amenable to that, but he did provide insight into what Beasley's value could be.

JS: Does Michael Beasley still have enough value to get a sign & trade done?

SAS: People like his skill set even though Beasley has underachieved. His salary that he's making as the number 2 overall pick is a bargain.

In this possible scenario, he'd want to renegotiate his deal and that could help facilitate the process. 

One last update to this story. Here's what Stephen A. Smith said earlier today on his show on Fox Sports Radio. (click on link below)

SAS on LBJ and Bosh headed to Miami 

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

(UPDATE) Stephen A. Smith - Miami to land LeBron and Bosh

We interrupt this vacation to report that the NBA Free Agent frenzy has begun!

Stephen A. Smith of Fox Sports Radio  and the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that LeBron James and Chris Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami this upcoming season.

I will be speaking with Stephen A. Smith momentarily and update this story.

So, please check back frequently for an update.

UPDATE!

Okay, just got of the phone with Stephen A. Smith.

Here's how the conversation went.

JS: So, what is the genesis of the report?

SAS: I spoke to my source and felt comfortable enough to go with my report. The report was that LeBron James has basically decided that he's going to South Beach. Dwyane Wade has done a nice job recruiting him and that it would be the best way to win multiple championships.

As far as Chris Bosh, it was a forgone conclusion and he was going there (Miami) because that's where he wants to be. I reported months ago, that I thought Bosh would end up there.

It was a matter of what Pat Riley wanted. It was either going to be Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire and Pat riley would rather have Chris Bosh.

Now, there are two scenarios at play here. Either all three of these guys take less money to make it work or there will have to be a sign & trade somewhere. Here's how that conversation went.

JS: Who's more likely to walk without needing a sign & trade?

SAS: LeBron is willing to walk -- the Cavaliers are not inclined to help LeBron bye any stretch. If they lose LeBron there nothing they can do -- they might as well start from scratch. They will have lost a superstar and a home grown product.

Again, this is highly likely. With LeBron you can't be 100 percent sure. As this report circulates the pressure on LeBron will mount and with a guy as fickle as him I wouldn't say anything is a done deal until he signs.

For Toronto, losing Chris Bosh is not as devastating. If you can get something of quality in return you pull the trigger.

A max deal needs to be more important to Chris Bosh because of the endorsement dollars -- those dollars -- they're funneling in to Lebron and Dwyane Wade. It would behoove him to get those extra 30 million to make up the money he would not be getting in endorsements.

If there's a sign & trade for Bosh -- then Michael Beasley would have to be part of that transaction. Now, Stephen A. Smith told me he didn't know yet if Toronto would be amenable to that, but he did provide insight into what Beasley's value could be.

JS: Does Michael Beasley still have enough value to get a sign & trade done?

SAS: People like his skill set even though beasley has underachieved. His salary that he's making as the number 2 overall pick is a bargain.

In this possible scenario, he'd want to renegotiate his deal and that could help facilitate the process. 

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

NBA: Live Blog/Chat from the AAA begins at 7pm

I'll be in the Heat's house (thank you Jason Jackson for allowing me to use your line), blogging/chatting up a storm with you guys.

It'll be a live look in and interaction about what options, deals, and rumors are being thrown around about the Heat and the other teams in the league.

See you at 7pm.

Is Jeffrey Loria the problem with the Marlins?

I am a fan of a team whose owner is (was) arguably the most meddlesome of any in the history of sports.

His name is George Steinbrenner.

I think Jeffery Loria is trying to channel is inner Steinbrenner. I believe he was also a Yankee fan growing up so maybe he took his cues from, "The Boss."

Steinbrenner is famous for both his pursuit of high-priced free agents and, in some cases, infamous for feuding with them. In his first 23 seasons, he changed managers 20 times (including dismissing Billy Martin on five separate occasions), and general managers 11 times in 30 years.

Well, except for the pursuit of the high priced free agents, everything else he seems to be up to speed on.

There have been four managers in 8+ years of the Loria era. Fredi Gonzalez becomes the third manager fired by Loria. The others include Jeff Torborg and Joe Girardi. Jack McKeon resigned by all media accounts. Some believe he was pushed out, but that's neither here nor there.

Let's take a look at some history.

Jeff Torborg gets the axe. Trader Jack comes in and they win a championship.

The next two years to his credit he brings in some high priced free agents, and it doesn't work out.

Then, Jack resigns and the Marlins brass begins the search for his replacement. All the talk is about how the baseball operation's guys want Fredi Gonzalez. In comes Jeffrey Stein-- errr, I mean Loria and decide to hire Joe Girardi instead.

Let's fast forward to August where a young Marlins team is in wild card contention and Loria berated an umpire while sitting behind the plate. From the dugout, Girardi told or asked the owner to stop. Loria angrily left his seat and confronted Girardi after the game during a 90-minute clubhouse meeting.

Loria has declined to comment on the episode or respond to published reports that he fired Girardi, then changed his mind.

Even Brett Favre would call this a schism.

He later fires Girardi at the end of the season and the emphasis for the change is put on Girardi and Beinfast not getting along.

That's true that they didn't get along, but if you didn't think that Loria's ego was the catalyst then you probably believe in the tooth fairy.

Though, you are allowed to believe in the Baseball God's (or the Baseball Writers Association).

They laughed at Loria and the Marlins when Joe Girardi went on to win the NL Manager of the Year Award.

In comes Fredi Gonzalez.

"If he wants to yell, he can yell," he said. "He paid for the team. He has the most expensive seat in the stadium."

That's a funny moment from his introductory press conference.

Fredi is a good man and a baseball lifer.

Did he make mistakes? Of course, what manager doesn't?

Was he the problem? No, he wasn't the problem.

He won 71, 84 & 87 games. 

The 2010 season begins with rumors flying around about Mr. Loria not agreeing with some of Fredi's decisions as manager and that Bobby Valentine could be his replacement.

Mr. Loria also proclaimed during spring training that this team is constructed to make the playoffs, and that he expects those types of results.

Everyone locally and nationally that follows the sport simultaneously burst out with laughter. 

Listen this team is pretty good. No one in their right mind outside of the owner and the front office thinks this flawed team SHOULD make the playoffs in a division with the two time defending National League Champions in their own division.

That's great start to the season huh?

This was a ticking time bomb.

Unfortunately, for Fredi he was made the scapegoat because the owner won't spend the cash to make this team a contender.

His General Manager who whiffed on the Miguel Cabrera trade is still regarded as one of the best in the game. In spite of that, the man is not a miracle worker.

Let's not forget this team was embarrassed into spending money and kept Dan Uggla after being shamed into it.

That's not the fault of David Samson, Larry Beinfast or Michael Hill.

Those guys work within the parameters that are set by, "The Boss Part Deux."

Steinbrenner hired and fired so many managers that one of his former managers gave him the derisive nickname, "Manager George."

Maybe, it's time to label Mr. Loria with the nickname, "Manager Jeffrey."

JS

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

Chris Paul to Orlando? Heat in Lottery?

A story surfaced this afternoon on the NBA Page of AOL FANHOUSE about the Orlando Magic dealing for Chris Paul.

Yes, I know that ESPN had a report this morning that Chris Paul was not on the market. That doesn't mean he won't be dealt or listen to offers. According to Tim Povtak's story Orlando's GM Otis Smith has made the call to New Orleans.

For those that don't know Tim Povtak has excellent Orlando ties. He covered the team for many years for the Orlando Sentinel.

Here's a blurb from the article:

The Orlando Magic's preliminary inquiry into the availability of point guard Chris Paul involved a discussion that included a trade of both starting guards Vince Carter and Jameer Nelson to New Orleans.

The Magic, as part of the early discussion, would receive both Paul and small forward James Posey.

Although Paul clearly is the best player in the talks, the Hornets are interested in reducing future salary obligations. The team is in the midst of an ownership sale/transfer that has been stalled by the debt obligations that the new owner would incur.

Paul has three years remaining on his contract worth $49 million. The final year, at $17.7 million, is a player's option.

Although Carter is past his prime, he is attractive because he has only one year remaining on his contract, worth $17.7 million. It would allow the Hornets to drop below the salary cap next summer. Nelson, an All-Star point guard two seasons ago, has three years remaining at $6.7, $7.3 and $7.8 million, making less than half of Paul's salary. 

The inclusion of Posey, who is scheduled to make $6.4 and $6.9 million, would make the deal work under salary cap rules and give the Magic a starting small forward to replace Matt Barnes, who is expected to leave as a free agent this summer.

If this trade does come to fruition it could be a monumental shake up in the NBA.

You would have a top 3 point guard (I think he's #2) and arguably the best big man in the game on the same team. 

Paul, would be able to make Howard a better player. Running pick & roll, finding him cutting to the basket and in transition. Look at what CP3 did for Tyson Chandler's career from 2006 though 2008. 

Now, imagine what he can do for Howard...

SCARY!

As frightening as this may sound it could be the best thing that happens to the Heat. 

If you're Pat Riley you can sell LeBron James on needing to play with Dwyane Wade simply to get out of the east. 

Thanks to the Lakers the league is moving even further to the SUPER POWER Teams.

That have and the have nots.

So, if this goes down (and Pat moves Michael Beasley for cap as expected), look for Riles to sell the Dream Team scenario, out of necessity for all those involved.

Also, HOOPSWORLD has a rumor that Miami has been offered a selection in the lottery in the upcoming NBA Draft.

My thoughts on that are that if it's not for a top 5 pick then it's simply not worth it. Allegedly, the Heat are mulling over the offer.

Man, this has gotten real fun & interesting huh?

JS

BTW: I'll be doing a live blog on this site from the American Airlines Arena beginning at 7pm Thursday.

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com

Brandon Marshall on Peezy, The Wildcat & Pop Culture

Brandon Marshall was a guest on the Jorge Sedano Show on 790 The Ticket this morning.

Marshall was guarded most of the interview, but was certainly playful on several fronts, including his alleged rift with former Dolphin Joey Porter. (click on link below for clip)

Brandon Marshall- joey porter popcorn muscles - 6-21-10

Marshall, spoke about how excited he is to be on his new team and how he marvels at the work ethic of some of his teammates, particularly his mates in the wide receiving corps. He spoke of how adding him this off season will make the offense more dynamic. Brandon seemed excited about playing in the Wildcat and joked about a possible new wrinkle.  (click on link below for clip)

Brandon Marshall wildcat - 6-21-10

Finally, he answered some pop culture questions such as Jay-Z being his favorite musical performer. Though, his response on movie made everyone giggle. It's possible he meant it in jest, but his response was -- ALL ABOUT THE BENJAMIN'S.

Brandon Marshall favoirte movie all about the bens- 6-21-10.mp3

If it wasn't a joke, it's funny because I think we all have found ourselves attached to a crappy movie now and then.

My submission would be Rocky Balboa. It's terribly cliched, but it brings back great memories of my childhood. So, I can't get on Brandon too much.

If it was a joke you have to give him credit for poking at himself there.

Don't forget you can catch the full interview (and every interview) on my show page at 790TheTicket.com.

You can also, download the podcasts on iTunes by typing my name into the search box.

JS

Jorge Sedano Show weekdays 6am-10am on 790 The Ticket

Follow me on Twitter @SedanoShow

email: sedano@790theticket.com