Smith:Bosh + Johnson sending signals they will leave / James

Bosh changed his location on his Twitter account location to “everywhere,” and removed a biography section that noted his status as Raptors captain. These seem fairly obvious hints, and Bosh last week was at a Lakers/Jazz game at Staples Center tweeting about holding the MVP trophy. It seems Bosh is working on his Lakers sign-and-trade. Gasol? Bynum? I assume the Raptors take either, if they have a chance.

[...]

But Johnson seems to have said his goodbye.

If I were the Bulls, I’d step up aggressively and offer him the maximum deal. I might not do the sign-and-trade, but allow a clause for a year extension or work out an insurance deal for a sixth year. From everything I’ve heard, the Bulls would have to mess it up to lose Johnson.

I’d been hearing some interesting stuff of late, namely that—surprise, surprise—even LeBron’s closest friends have no idea what he’s going to do. But he’s expressed interest in the Bulls and he did seem to know a lot about the team during the first round series. LeBron talked in depth about Taj Gibson, and while James is a true student of the game, Taj Gibson? As I wrote in the first round, if LeBron is sizing up his future—how could he see much with Shaq and Z at center, three starters at least 34, Mo Williams again coming up small in the playoffs and almost no bench. Who knows what happens in court with Delonte West’s gun case and his bipolar issues? I heard from someone close to LeBron’s group last week that LeBron covets the triangle offense, which I read to be less that he wants to play for Phil Jackson—I still think there’s no way he leaves to come to Chicago. LeBron with Kobe in L.A?—than he wants some offense as they are pretty scattered in Cleveland. So getting a respected coach with a plan and system is important. Still, it seems a long shot for the Bulls to sign LeBron and I’d concentrate on Joe Johnson if it were me. Though I don’t play for jackpots—I prefer treasuries.