Dwyane Wade Fuels Free-Agent Fire

There's been talk of it before.

It's an idea that would change everything in the National Basketball Association. A development that if it were to come about would have earth-shattering effects for the players, their teammates, the teams, the league, global athlete marketing and the entire construct of player free-agency.

We're about 20,000 leagues into the Ocean of Hype here, but we are talking about two of the top three NBA players electing to sign with the same team this summer. And the reality of it just became a whole lot more likely.

Dwyane Wade has not only suggested that he and LeBron James chose to sign extensions specifically built so that the option would be available for them to play together, but that they would be willing to sign for less money to make that happen.

And lo, the NBA did tremble in their wake.

In an interview with the New York Post, Wade not only outlined a conversation between he and LeBron about leaving their fourth year as an option to allow them to sign together, but made it clear that money isn't the most important thing.

"Before we agreed to terms, LeBron and I had a couple conversations," Wade said. "I can't recall exactly what we said, but the gist of it was we wanted to give ourselves the flexibility and the option to play together.

"A lot of times in this league, players usually wind up going where they can get the most money. We're both blessed within that area. We've made a lot of money. So we wanted to base our decision on two things, the organization and the ability to win a title. And that's what we'll do. When the season is over, we plan to sit down and talk about it.

"I'm not saying it will happen. But I'm intrigued by the idea."

This is far from a done deal, but this does represent a significant escalation in the serious nature of this idea. This is something Wade and James have been discussing for three years and they have far bigger fish to fry than just pulling in max contracts.

Alone they already have tremendous power, but together, they could push for anything the CBA would allow them to have. They could hand-pick their coach, their teammates, everything. It would put them in a position to pursue what they've been after for years, to not only be the greatest basketball players of their generation, but to be global icons. And they may be starting to realize that this is ultimately more likely if they work together rather than against each other.

How can they not look at the unimaginably stacked roster the Lakers have thanks to the joke that was the Pau Gasol trade and not want to replicate that kind of talent overload? How can they not look at how Boston is able to overwhelm teams and how legendary that team is because of the way its three superstars play for the good of the team?

These two understand that they have the ability to dominate the league and win championships right now. But in order to overcome their older brothers on more stacked squads, they may have to combine forces. This wouldn't be possible if their personalities didn't mesh. But in truth, they are great friends and understand what the other one is pursuing. They've played together on Team USA. They know what it takes to win.

And if money is no longer the issue, every team in the league just had their eyebrows spike.

It's going to be a very interesting summer.