Heat Deal James and Wade to Lakers; Ray Allen Reportedly Pissed

In late-breaking news, the world champion Miami Heat traded forward LeBron James and guard Dwayne Wade to the Los Angeles Lakers. The deal is pending player approval, as both James and Wade would need to accept a limited role coming off the bench on a Laker team that is now very deep. The deal is believed to be the first time a reigning NBA champion has traded the reigning MVP before ever playing their first game to defend the title.

Meanwhile the San Antonio Spurs, who once traded Mychal Thompson to the Lakers for a peanut butter sandwich and a bag of chips, are open to the idea of dealing Tim Duncan to Los Angeles. The Lakers, who lost Andrew Bynum in the move for Dwight Howard, are seeking some additional size to shore up the end of their bench.

All of these wheelings and dealings apparently woke up Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale. McHale, former GM for the Minnesota Timberwolves, is widely given credit for single-handedly reviving the Boston Celtics franchise when he traded superstar Kevin Garnett to Beantown during the summer of 2007. Reports have McHale and the Rockets management on the phones with Oklahoma City. Under league collective bargaining rules, the Thunder will need a third team involved before they can send their stars to Boston. Kendrick Perkins, a member of the Celtics 2008 championship team, told ESPN that he's excited about reuniting with Garnett and coach Doc Rivers.

Ray Allen isn't sure what to make of any of this. "I took less money to play in Miami, and now we won't be much better than an expansion franchise," Allen said. Nor does the team look set to get better any time soon. Pat Riley, the brains behind Miami's two titles, is considering resigning from his position to take over as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. "I need more rings, and I certainly am not going to get any more in Miami," Riley told one league official.