HoopsHype.com Rumors

Dwyane Wade fully believes that Kobe Bryant will return from his injury to be the old Kobe. “I sent out a tweet yesterday and I reached out to Kobe,’’ Wade said when I asked him about Bryant’s injury. “Obviously, it’s unfortunate that this happened. He was having a hell of a year. You talk about somebody willing a team to a goal, he was doing that. So losing Kobe for our game, it’s not anything that we want to do. But the only thing you think of when you see someone like and you hear his interview, you know that he’s going to do everything in his power to come back and be the Kobe Bryant that everybody has become accustomed to. So you can believe it when he said it.’’ Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Injuries 

Dwyane Wade LeBron James and Chris Bosh will be in the Miami Heat lineup against the Boston Celtics on Friday, the team announced. The Heat said that forwards Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier will not play. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Battier has an array of minor aches, and Haslem has a sprained ankle. Even with the Heat's Big Three returning, Friday's game in Miami will be lacking at least some star power. The Celtics plan to play without Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, both of whom are dealing with left ankle soreness. Pierce and Garnett are expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday night in Orlando. "We have back-to-backs and we're trying to avoid back-to-backs, to be honest," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who -- not surprisingly -- hints that the duo likely will sit again with a back-to-back to close the regular season next week. "I just thought this would be a way to do it. A lot of talk didn't go into it." ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Injuries, Shane Battier 

Has Wade, 31, lost a step? Is his game on the decline? Is he no longer the player he used to be? Did age finally win? "When you're doing it front of the public eye and people are taking shots at you and you're not feeling well, it frustrates you," he said. "If I'm not crying about, if I'm not out there saying 'Woe is me,' then I don't feel it needs to be discussed." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade 

"I don't have an ego in terms of what people say about me now or my role on this team because I know I'm a hell of a player," Wade told USA TODAY Sports. "I know I can be a top five player and lead the league in scoring if I didn't decide to take a lesser role. That doesn't' take away from what I've done in this game and what I'll continue to do in this game and what I can still do." USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade 

Riley, who was speaking at the Heat's annual Family Festival on Sunday, said the next step is turning his attention toward keeping this team together for a few more years. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will become free agents after next season. "I want to keep bringing in pieces that are going to complement them and hope we can have one of those 10-year rides," Riley said. "You think about every team, the Celtics in the 60s, the Lakers in the 80s, the Bulls (in the 90s) and then again the Spurs, those guys have been together for eight, nine, 10 years. If we can keep this group together for eight, nine, 10 years, we're all going to have some fun. Don't ever take it for granted. This is a special time." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade 

Wade said he wants to get back on the court before the playoffs begin. He just isn't sure when, but has no plans of rushing it. Wade has missed the past four games because of ankle and knee soreness, with the knee being the bigger of the concerns. "I don't know," Wade said when asked about his return. "I'm just trying to make sure I'm healthy. The most important thing is to be healthy. When I feel it, I'll get back on the court. Obviously, I want to play but I just got to make sure that I'm right." South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Injuries 

Erik Spoelstra talks about whether stars LeBron James & Dwyane Wade (& Ray Allen) might return Saturday vs. Philly “We’ll see,’’ Spoelstra said. “We’ll continue to re-evaluate our guys. Our guys are doing their part. They’re getting a great deal of treatment.’’ Sulia

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Injuries 

Ray Allen (ankle), Mario Chalmers (ankle), LeBron James (hamstring) and Dwyane Wade (ankle) will all miss tonight's #HEATgame. Twitter

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Injuries 

The Miami Heat are expected to be without LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen because of various nagging injuries for Friday's road game against the Charlotte Bobcats. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said all four players continued to receive treatment during Thursday's light practice at AmericanAirlines Arena before the team's flight to Charlotte. James, Wade and Chalmers have missed the past three games and have not played since Friday's win at New Orleans. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Mario Chalmers, Injuries 

Ray Allen not only watched it prior to entering the Heat’s locker room Tuesday night, but he called over Heat teammates — such as Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem and Dwyane Wade — to watch. “I mean, it was just despicable,” Allen said. “Not only as a parent, but I think about where I went, the places I’ve gone in my career, my parents kind of lent me to all these other people. I’ve been raised not only by Mom and Dad, but by several coaches, AAU coaches, high school coaches and then my college coach, and all of them had a hand in getting me to who I am today. And not to mention the teachers that I grew up under, learning, so we trust in the people we lend our kids off to, to help them grow. And I only hope when I let my kids go, there’s somebody watching them and growing and making sure they do that.” Palm Beach Post

Miami Heat, Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade, Coaching, Udonis Haslem, NCAA, Norris Cole, Mike Rice 

Minor nicks, as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra put it, will keep Miami starters LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers from playing against the New York Knicks. Spoelstra ruled all three out for Tuesday night's game, with James battling hamstring tightness and Wade and Chalmers dealing with right ankle sprains. "Everybody's human," Spoelstra said. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Injuries 

Tom Haberstroh: Spoelstra said LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, injuries and all, tackled teammates in the tunnel after the win. Twitter @tomhaberstroh

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra 

Except . . . not going to happen. Not after this during a Dallas radio interview, "I'm actually a LeBron James fan. I'm not much of a Dwyane Wade fan." That was followed by, "I just never really got along with [Wade]. I guess I just don't like his style or whatever. I didn't like the year the Mavs lost when he got all the foul calls. I didn't like that." This time if he has to choose between Wade and Kaman, an impending free agent, we can guess which way Riley would lean. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Free Agency, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Kaman 

That call didn’t effect the game too much (the Bulls scored 1 point on the ensuing free throws plus possession). After the game, Dwyane Wade talked about his teammate’s reaction. “I’m surprised he hasn’t done it before,” Wade said. “A big guy like (James), no one really wants to see him start trying to inflict pain on other people. He plays the game the right way and it’s unfortunate. He gets reffed like a guy that was in this Miami Heat jersey before, Shaquille O’Neal. ”It’s tough, but that’s why he is who he is. You’ve got to deal with it. Tonight, he decided to get back a little bit. I didn’t think it was that bad, but he got called for it.” Arlington Heights Daily Herald

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Referees 

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade participated in the morning shoot-around at the United Center and said he plans to play in Wednesday's game against the Bulls. "I think I'm ready to give it a go," Wade said. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Injuries 

Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat hope to add to their 27-game winning streak Wednesday when they visit the Chicago Bulls. But Wade also sympathizes with the plight of Bulls guard Derrick Rose, who has yet to return from an ACL tear suffered a year ago. “When Derrick is ready ... no one knows his body like he does,” Wade told the Tribune on Tuesday. “We can all speculate on whatever we think, but I think he’s doing the right thing. He’s taking his time to come back. I mean, he’s a young guy. "Obviously, the city of Chicago and the Chicago Bulls are going to lean on him a lot. He’s going to do some amazing things. You don’t want him to not be 100 percent. From afar I have been proud of how he has handled this situation, not rushing back until he’s ready.” Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, Injuries 

The Miami Heat will try to prolong their historic winning streak without Dwyane Wade for the second consecutive game on Monday night, as the All-Star shooting guard will not play against the Orlando Magic because of soreness in his right knee. The Heat have listed him as day to day, and coach Erik Spoelstra said before tipoff that it remains unclear if Wade will play on this road trip that still has stops in Chicago, New Orleans and San Antonio. USA Today Sports

Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade, Injuries 

Mavericks center Chris Kaman joined BaD Radio 104.1 FM The Ticket on Thursday. Here are some highlights. On the Heat’s winning streak: “Miami is playing really well now. They snuck out some serious wins the last couple of games. They should have lost, but they were able to figure it out and get back on top. I’m actually a LeBron James fan. I’m not much of a Dwyane Wade fan, but I’m a LeBron James fan. I’ve been watching him play, and we were in the same draft together. He’s had a great career already. I don’t want him to win everything, but I’m ok with the winning streak. I’m not against it or really for it. I just never really go along with (Dwyane Wade). I guess I just don’t like his style or whatever. I didn’t like the year the Mavs lost when he got all the foul calls. I didn’t like that.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Kaman 

Of perhaps even greater significance: James also has a bond so thick with Dwyane Wade that it's getting tougher and tougher to picture LeBron saying goodbye to him anytime soon. ESPN.com

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade 

Marc Stein: For all "sense" LeBron going back to Cavs in 2014 makes, don't think it's that simple in real life. He & D- Wade too close to just bolt Miami Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade