$16.6 M starting contracts for Wade and Bosh at Heat

Bosh and Wade each are eligible for contracts that start at $16.6 million for 2010-11.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are teaming up together on the Miami Heat, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Bosh was selected with the No. 4 pick of the 2003 NBA Draft out of Georgia Tech, with Wade selected at No. 5. Riley had been interested in drafting Bosh ahead of Wade at the time.

Wade and Bosh are expected to announce their decision on Wednesday, according to the source.

A week ago, on the eve of the league’s negotiating period, Wade hardly was considered a concern at all. His re-signing was thought to be a formality.

It was not immediately clear whether Bosh will sign with Miami outright or join the Heat through a sign-and-trade deal. Bosh could earn $125 million over six years via sign-and-trade, but only $96 million over five without it.

“Either way, he’s definitely going to Miami,” the source said.

Bosh remains the guy both Wade and LeBron want–he is the connection to a title for them. He balances their game.

Wade and Bosh together would form the core of what could be a powerhouse team. However, with the two of them the Heat would have four players under contract, so there is a lot of team building to go on (building that could take a couple years to get near championship team caliber).

For James, the questions are harder if he does not go to Miami with the other two. Stay home where the heart is in Cleveland and bring Bosh there to be part of a team that would instantly contend? Or maybe LeBron joins Rose and Noah in Chicago? Joins a young core to build a dynasty with New Jersey? Joins Amare in New York to try to win on the biggest stage? No easy answers there.

Everything is murky, but Wade staying in Miami seems to fit the information. And Bosh may well join him for his day in the sun.

In Miami, a combo of Wade and Bosh makes for a better team, even without much around them so far, than Rose and Bosh.

It’s a slam dunk!