As LeBron James hosted Day 2 of his three-day, six-team convention, rumors were running rampant that Dwyane Wade, once considered a lock to stay in Miami, is interested in joining the Bulls.
Multiple reports said Wade was set to have a second meeting with the Bulls, with ESPN.com reporting that the superstar guard was leaning toward going to Chicago. Wade, who has played his entire career with the Heat and won a championship with them in 2006, was born in Chicago and went to high school in the suburb of Oak Lawn, Ill.
The Heat visited James yesterday in Cleveland, as did the Clippers, making it four teams that have now come to recruit him. The Heat sent a six-man crew, including Pat Riley, former Heat star Alonzo Mourning, head coach Erik Spoelstra and managing general partner Micky Arison.
Riley classified the meeting as “extremely relaxed,” according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and he was described as “cautiously optimistic.” The Plain Dealer also reported that Riley, who showed James his championship rings, also met with James’ agent, Leon Rose, on Thursday night.
As for the Clippers, GM Neil Olshey released a statement that said the meeting “went very well” and that James camp’s reaction “was considerate and receptive.”
Olshey said the Clippers told James the Clips are “his best option: We clearly have the best team already in place for him to join, we have the best city, the best arena, the best practice facility — overall the best situation.”
Olshey also told reporters in Cleveland: “I’ll tell you one thing — if this basketball thing doesn’t work out, [James is] going to be great on the world poker tour. Because he’s playing his cards pretty close to his vest.”
New Cleveland coach Byron Scott, who will be part of the contingent meeting with James today, said he believes the Cavs are a championship-caliber team with LeBron and that he is a coach who can lead it to a title.
“I’ve won some championships [as a player] and I’ve been there as a coach, so I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to be successful on this level,” Scott said in his introductory press conference. “One of the other things to tell him is just that I think this is the right time. I think I’m the right coach and I think this team has the ability right now to reach the championship, to get there and get a championship.
“I think at the end of the day, he’s going to make the right decision, he’ll be here in Cleveland for the rest of his career.”
mark.hale@nypost.com