ESPN caught up with Jordan at a celebrity golf course.  This is what he had to say.

“There’s no way, with hindsight, I would’ve ever called up Larry [Bird], called up Magic [Johnson] and said, ‘Hey, look, let’s get together and play on one team,’” Jordan said.

This could be biased, since I have been a Bulls fan since I was four years old, but James will never be Jordan.  He doesn’t have the competitive edge that stand players like Jordan apart from the rest.  LBJ is a great athlete and a good basketball player, but it ends there.

Jordan said he would never have thought about calling Larry Bird or Magic Johnson to ask them to play together on the same team.  Why? Because he is a man who wanted to be the best.  Jordan can look in the mirror and say, I came to a bad team, picked them up and delivered six championships without ever asking for his buddies help.

Sure, he had Pippen.  Pippen was picked up in a trade with the Seattle Super Sonics.  No one thought he would be one of the 50 greatest players.  The two learned how to play with each other.  Jordan say, I don’t like his style, trade him.

LeBron’s decision to go to Miami doesn’t bother me at all.  Actually, I love it, because maybe the Jordan comparisons will stop.

Jordan built his legendary legacy by staying with one team through any diversity and won six championships.

In Jordan’s interview with ESPN he did say it is a different era.  Players like LeBron and D-Wade have the opportunity to converse with each other and join the same team.  I am a firm believer if Jordan played in this era, he would not do it.  He wanted to beat the best.  You can’t beat the best, if they are on your team.

Here is the column I wrote on the subject.

I think they could win four rings in the next five years.  This is the best big three combination in the league since Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and James Worthy.

Lewis Alcindor Jr. now Kareem Abdul Jabbar

At the time this was published the Heat didn’t have Udonis Haslem on the roster.  Talks of Zydrunas Ilgauskas on the team hadn’t started yet either.  Mike Miller is still deciding whether he wants to join the Heat and Derek Fisher has refused a Miami offer to accept a Laker offer and stay in Miami.

Also in the column, is talk about the Bulls and the horrible image mistake LeBron James made.  Bad LeBron, just bad.

Rosters are starting to take shape, especially for the Chicago Bulls. They traded away Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich for expiring contracts that are now off the books and future draft picks. The Bulls are starting to build the roster and our only six days into the free agent signing period.

Boozer and Korver are officially signed. Yesterday, the Bulls signed 7 ft center Omer Asik from Turkey. Asik was originally drafted by the Portland Trailblazers in 2008, but was immediately traded to the Bulls. He has been developing for the past two years in Euroleague play. Chicago needs a big man who can defend a Dwight Howard or a Pau Gasol. Asik looks long and lengthy but is a great shot blocker. Maybe he will defend with intimidation as his best aspect; that’s what Ben Wallace did. Scouts seem to think he has solid NBA skills.

“Center seems to be his natural position as he loves playing with his back to the basket possessing a good assortment of moves to get his shot off … He is a tenacious rebounder going for the offensive boards as well as wiping the defensive glass.”

This isn’t saying he will dominate, but he will add depth off the bench. The Bulls have been a team that relies on six to seven players, maybe Tom Thibodeau’s run as head coach will bring in a new era called use the bench.

In other NBA news:

Golden State gets forward David Lee
New York gets forward Anthony Randolph,forward Kelenna Azubuike, forward Ronny Turiaf and a 2010 second-round pick.

Golden State wins the trade. Lee is a great rebounder and can put up 20 to 25 points any night. He is perfect for the run and gun tempo of the Don Nelson’s Warriors. New York got three so-so players. The second round pick will more than likely lead to the same type of player. Randolph is a solid player with upside but he isn’t going to develop into an all-star. He will be a great sixth man or a contributing role player. Warriors get an all-star and the Knicks get three similar players who will not amount to much.

Miami resigned forward Udonis Haslem.

Haslem has been a blue collar player for the Heat since 2002, it only seems right to bring him back to attempt to win another championship. He is a big man who can step out and hit a jumper, rebound and defend in the low post. Heat owner Pat Riley would have been a fool not to bring him back.

Dallas gets center Tyson Chandler and center Alexis Ajinca
Charlotte gets center Erick Dampier, forward Eduardo Najera, guard Matt Carroll and cash considerations.

Dallas wins this trade. Chandler is not offensively gifted but can rebound and block shots on a much higher level than Erick Dampier can. Oh, Dampier can’t shoot a penny in the ocean, Chandler is better in this category too.

Najera is on his last legs and Carroll isn’t an NBA talent. Dallas drops some salary to pick up players they could use, while Charlotte picks up veteran players who will not fit their system.

Derek Fisher stays with the Lakers.

Great move. Fisher kept the Lakers in the playoffs throughout every series. He is tough and the heart of the team.

Most of everything is rumors and hasn’t been set in contract yet.

The Atlanta Hawks are going to send Chris Childress to the Suns. The Suns are also going after Hedu Turkoglu. Childress has played over seas for the past few years, and has become a great player.

Al Jefferson will be a Denver Nugget.

J.J. Redick has been offered a deal from the Bulls but Orlando can keep him if they match the 3 year deal worth $20 million because he is a restricted free agent.

“Big Z”, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, will probably join the Miami Heat. He will follow LeBron, no dobut about it. They play well together and respect each other. They want to win a ring for each other.

Cavaliers have put an offer on the table for Kyle Lowry, but the Redick situation falls on Lowry as well. The Rockets have reportedly matched the contract.

I have no idea why, but the Timberwolves are going after Luke Ridnour. They have seven point guards and are trying to get another, no clue why.

The Bulls didn’t get one of the three big named free agents and the three players signing to another eastern conference team like the Miami Heat was discouraging but I have been awaken by the same people for the discouragement.

At first, the signing of Carlos Boozer didn’t seem like such a good move.  He definitely wasn’t big enough bait for LeBron to come to Chicago and at times he has brittle bones.  But, he when he is healthy, which is more than half of a season, he is a dependable 20 and 10 guy.  Plus, he is an eight year veteran who can mentor Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Actually, Boozer is the eldest player on the Bulls; he can give tips to the entire team. Also, he has playoff experience past the first round. After personal debate, I am excited to see Boozer as a Bull.

Reinsdorf has also offered Orlando Magic restricted free agent, J.J. Redick, a three year deal worth $20 million.  He hasn’t proven himself as a great player, so the contract may be a little much.  On the other hand, he has shown progress each of his four seasons in Orlando.  Redick was the only offense the Magic had in a couple of the games against the Boston Celtics in the quarter finals of the playoffs. The Bulls offer is based on potential and the player he could become, it is worth it.  He has shown he can play at the NBA level.

I GIVE THE FRONT OFFICE CREDIT. They are making the best out of a situation that looked like doomsday.  I would much rather have Boozer, Korver and Redick than the three guys that were traded for expiring contracts: Tyrus Thomas, John Salmons and Kirk Hinrich. Boozer is a man, Thomas is a little boy.  Korver is a better three-point shooter than Salmons and is more reliable to hit shots.  On the other Salmons plays better defense and unlike Korver, he can create his own shot.

I love Hinrich.  The Bulls should have traded Luol Deng and kept Hinrich, but he did have an overpaid contract they wanted to get off of the books.  Hinrich is the best backup point guard in the league.  He is a premier perimeter defender, a superb assist man and can he shoot from anywhere on the court.  The problem is, Rose is more valuable and when they traded Hinrich, so was LeBron, Wade or Bosh. Redick is bigger and is a more consistent shooter.  Plus, he has younger legs and still has plenty of upside.

The Bulls are putting together a team instead of relying on one superstar player to take the “team” to the next level.  To win a championship in the NBA, the organization has to have a team, not one guy.  It has been proven over and over again.  LeBron didn’t win in Cleveland because he didn’t have a team around him and didn’t play with what he did have.  The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers win because they have role players who know what they have to do on the court.  They perform their jobs well and let the Kobe Bryants, Paul Pierces, Pau Gasols and Kevin Garnetts of the world do what they do.

The Bulls are not at a championship level at the present time but they’re a better team than they were last year.  The summer isn’t over and the Chicago Bulls still have the money to pick up whomever they wish.

The answer is…the Miami Heat.  James is going to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a super team.  This big three is better than any other star combination in the league. I believe they can win at least four championships.  The question now is, who will Pat Riley to play with the super team.  We will find out the answer to that later this summer.

This is depressing. The Bulls traded their entire team away except for five players: Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng, James Johnson and Joakim Noah.  While trading the team away they signed expiring contracts at the end of the 2009-2010 season so they would have money to spend.  They even fired their head coach.

With James deciding to go to the Heat, the Bulls missed out on all three of the big free agents.  The only move they have made was by signing Carlos Boozer.  This move is good, but he is not a franchise player.  The Bulls still need a lot help on their roster to even be an eighth seed in the eastern conference.

The Bulls are going to be hurting for quite some time now. The elite talent is already signed.  They didn’t pick up anybody in the draft because they traded their pick away.

What are they going to do?  They need scoring, especially perimeter shooting.  Ray Allen is going to stay in Boston.  The only options in the free agency market are Mike Miller, Kyle Korver or J.J. Redick.

Rose is a on the verge of becoming a superstar.  Boozer is a legitimate all-star when he is healthy.  Joakim Noah is a scrappy garbage bucket collector who is a solid low post defender.  Taj Gibson showed a lot of potential his rookie year to be a solid front court role player. Luol Deng can do everything, but at mid-level,  he will not be an all-star.  What do the Bulls plan to do with this lineup?  This lineup is the first stage of a rebuilding process.  The Bulls wanted to immediately build an elite team, they failed.

The Bulls are by far the biggest loser of free agency.  The Bulls were the best option for Bosh, Wade and LeBron but something about Chicago’s proposal didn’t work.

Looking at this with the most optimism I can, the Bulls still have money to make some moves.  Like I said, the roster needs some shooters and some lengthy defenders.

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf needs to seriously think about firing his front office.  General Manager Gar Forman and Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson should be forced to pack their bags and find a new career because obviously getting the best NBA talent  available is too difficult for them.

He is announcing what team’s contract he is going to sign.

As a Bulls fan I hate to say this, but it has been reported by ESPN James is going to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.

If this is true, the Miami Heat are going to win no less than four consecutive championships.

This is a bad day.

Wade remaining in Miami has been the general consensus, not surprising, but he could have came home to Chicago.  Bosh joining the Heat obviously kept Wade.  Wade repeatedly said he wants to stay in Miami, but he wants a competitive team.  He has that with the addition of Bosh.  Bosh was my number one option for the Bulls during free agency.  On the other hand, he was one of the players who wanted to follow Wade or James because he wants to be part of an elite team, so, joining Wade in Miami isn’t surprising either, just another disappointment because they both could have came to the Bulls.

The Bulls goofed up.

I don’t know what their proposal strategy was but it didn’t work at all.  Two of the three big name free agents have already signed to another team. Now, there is no reason for LeBron to come to Chicago.  He has the option to play in Miami and form a super team that could probably win championships for the next ten years.  Another option is to go to the NBA’s biggest market, New York, and play with his buddy Amare Stoudemire.  LeBron James is not going to be attracted to Chicago with Boozer when he can go to these other teams with better supporting casts.

A source close to the subject brought up a great point.

“Remember when LeBron and Boozer played together, they didn’t clique.  The next year they cleaned house and tried to build the franchise around different role players like dead eye shooters,” Jeff Engelhardt said. Engelhardt is the sports editor at the Daily Egyptian.

I do remember.  James and Boozer played together during James’s rookie season.  Boozer left the next season for Utah because James wanted better players on the team.  Why would James want to play with him again if it didn’t work the first time?

Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf overpaid Boozer.  He is not worth $80 million.  Boozer is a solid player but not a headlining super star.  He will give the Bulls the inside scoring they have lacked for quite some time and be a great rebounding partner for Joakim Noah.  BUT, he is not Wade, Bosh or LeBron.

The Bulls traded away their entire roster for this off-season, for nothing. They haven’t signed any of the guys they wanted to unless mediocre is what they were shooting for in the first place.

LeBron James, Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh still don’t have a home, whether the locale is the same as last season or different. The only movement to happen is Amare Stoudemire.  I would like to thank him and the New York Knicks for making something happen.  Yesterday I said he might lure another free agent to the Knicks, but it’s clear, we will have to wait til the end of the week.  No one is making any moves until LeBron or D-Wade do.

The hype of the free agency period had everyone excited but know the world is sick of hearing “where will LeBron go?”  James’s future overrode the NBA Finals because of the hyped excitement.  The championship came and went, Lakers are the champions, but LeBron still doesn’t have a team.  I guess this proves to the media, we should have waited for July 8th, the day players can ink the contract, instead of over analyzing free agency for three years.

I wrote about the lackluster free agency movement in my column posted on Daily Egyptian.com.  Have a look.

Stoudemire is a five time all-star and is revered as an explosive low post scorer.  By signing him, the Knicks have a little more leverage to get guys such as LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

Before they sign Stoudemire, the Knicks have one of the worst lineups in the NBA.  Even the New Jersey Nets, who only won 12 games, have a better roster.  They just had more injuries and trouble in the locker room.

With Stoudemire on the roster, James and Wade know there is a guy there who wants to win a championship and has the skill set to do so.  I haven’t heard anything about James or Wade wanting to specifically play with Stoudemire, but having a low post threat on one of the teams who are putting a large number in front of them, never hurts.

What would happen if Wade or James did go to New York?  Would Chris Bosh and the other one sign with the Bulls?  The Knicks have Stoudemire, so, there is no room for Bosh on their roster.  If they sign LeBron, they wouldn’t necessarily need Wade and might not have the finances to do so.

Wade could then come to his home, Chicago, and bring Bosh with him.  Bosh is not going to resign with the Toronto Raptors.  He is just waiting to see where Wade and James go, so he can play with another elite talent.  Wade has met with the Chicago Bulls front office twice and has said the offer they presented was intriguing.

All signs are saying Wade to the Bulls and then whoever wants to win some games will join him whether it is Bosh, David Lee or Carlos Boozer.

On the other hand, LeBron met with the Bulls for three hours.  Both parties left the meeting in high spirits.  A Chicago marketing company brought a great campaign in his direction.

They sent him a pair of Michael Jordan’s Nike Airs to him and said “Do you think you can fill these shoes?”  Then they sent him the famous MJ poster of him floating in the air during a slam dunk contest.  They then asked Lebron if he could fill the shadow. James is extremely competitive and has an ego larger than huge bank roll.  He wants to prove he is as good as MJ, why not do it in the building he built?

Maybe, LeBron and Bosh are the future of Chicago.

Wade is the third best player in the league behind Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.  As a member of the Miami Heat, he won a championship and finals MVP in 2006, a scoring title 2009, six time all-star, NBA All-Star game MVP and the list of achievements goes on forever.

Wade would be great for the Bulls.  We need scoring and a perimeter defender since the Bulls traded Kirk Hinrich, the best one they had.  Besides his scoring accomplishments,  he has been on the all-defense team three times.

He would be perfect in Tom Thibodeau’s defensive system.  He is a great help defender, picks off passes in the passing lane and knows how to rotate in zones.

I would love for Wade to come to Chicago.  If he did, there is a great possibility he would bring Lebron James or Chris Bosh with him.  These guys want to play together and most importantly, win championships.  They would have the perfect opportunity to do this if they joined Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose.

The only negative against Dwyane Wade is the comments he made about loyalty in the Bulls organization.  He questioned loyalty because previous stars such as Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen do not associate with the team.

As adults,  I think both parties can let bygones be bygones  and unite to form a championship team.  This is what both sides want, so, lets make it happen.