NBA Free Agency: Could Dream Team of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, LeBron James Work?

July 1 is creeping up, and after hearing for the past few months about how the New York Knicks, the Chicago Bulls and the New Jersey Nets were going to be the free agent breadwinners, the Miami Heat have emerged as the front runner.

Recent reports claim that Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James met in Miami to discuss their upcoming future, and also, the idea of playing together with the Heat.

The Heat have the cap room to sign all three to near max-contracts, while still leaving some money for role players. They currently have a league-high $43.3 million to spend, and only three players currently under contract.

James would have to take a contract less than the maximum, so it's up to him to decide if he wants to be part of an immediate championship with Wade, or to take the money elsewhere.

Signing Bosh will also be difficult for the Heat because the Raptors want a sign and trade. The Raptors have been eyeing Michael Beasley, but Pat Riley announced earlier this week Beasley is in the plans next season.

Yet despite being thought of as nothing more than fantasy before, after their meeting, the idea of LeBron, Bosh and Wade playing together in South Beach has become more of a reality.

If this team-up were to happen, it would be a nightmare for the other teams that not only want a shot at a championship next season, but also a chance at signing one of these stars.

There is no doubt that a team of this caliber would be the front runner, along with the Los Angeles Lakers, to win the 2011 NBA championship. The Heat could also be the franchise to beat for the next decade if they attract other players who want to win.

That the Heat already have Wade nearly guaranteeing that he will stay is proof positive enough that Miami are front runners to land a big-time free agent. No other team with cap space can guarantee a superstar like Wade to play with.

And there aren't many players who want a ring more than LeBron. The man wants to win, plain and simple, and is probably not going to get there as quickly if he stays in Cleveland, or rebuilds with New Jersey, New York or the L.A. Clippers.

If James joins the Heat, they are guaranteed a championship within two years. Former powerhouses like the Cavs or Boston Celtics seem to be relinquishing their dominance. The only Eastern teams that would give Miami a run for their money would be the Orlando Magic and the Chicago Bulls, if they sign Amare Stoudemire or Joe Johnson.

But can these three superstars play well together?

The money is there, but will the chemistry be there? Will they leave their egos behind? They have all played together in the Olympics and a few All-Star games with no known problems, and it appears that they could be very content to play on the same squad.

Wade would remain at shooting guard, and LeBron could become the small forward that the Heat have been pining for since Antoine Walker shimmied his way out four years ago.

Bosh might have a problem though. He is a natural power forward, and has shown displeasure with being used as an under-sized center. The Heat already have options at power forward with Michael Beasley starting, and Udonis Haslem off the bench.

So if the Heat want to make Bosh happy, they would need to convert Beasley into a small forward, or say goodbye to either incumbent.  It's not likely that Beasley or Haslem would be happy as a third option, especially the latter, who has toiled in Miami since 2003.

So if these three superstars find on-court chemistry, the only problem that could arise would be their egos. Every superstar has one, and every NBA team has to deal with it.

The problem with Wade and LeBron is that players of their caliber, in their prime, have never joined forces. For example, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were a superstar duo, but Pippen knew his role, and rarely took the last shot.

Wade is the king of Miami. If James wants immediate success, he will need to become the Pippen to Wade's Jordan. Wade will not be happy with LeBron taking over the team that he built from a 25-win squad to a championship winner. There can be no changing of the guard if James joins the Heat.

Anyway, these rumors are premature, but the idea of these three superstars together, forming a modern day Dream Team is enough to turn the NBA on its side. A team consisting of Wade, James and Bosh will be similar to the Boston Celtics of the 1960s, winners of nine championships over 10 years.

It's on the shoulders of Wade, Bosh and James to decide if they'd rather make an extra few million dollars, or go down in the annals of NBA history as perhaps the greatest NBA team ever assembled, a Justice League-type NBA super-team.