Hinrich, Seraphin official Wizards and LeBron to Miami

Hinrich will give John Wall another voice of reason as the
rookie takes center stage this season as a Wizard.
(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

While LeBron James stole the spotlight last night with his decision to join the Miami Heat, the Washington Wizards sneaked in an official word on the trade that would send Kirk Hinrich and draft pick Kevin Seraphin over from Chicago.

LeBron, a native of Akron, Ohio, had six choices last night, including the Bulls.  Many believed he would stay home in Cleveland, but sources indicated Miami would be the destination.  Other choices included the the New Jersey Nets, the New York Knicks, and the L.A. Clippers.

At around 9:40 p.m. ET last night, about 33 hours after Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh announced their plans to play together in Miami, "King" James took off his Ohio crown and ended a week long NBA Free Agency buzz with his final choice: the Heat.  Moments later, Wade Tweeted his reaction.

LeBron explained his decision as the outcome of a dream he had that morning and a reconfirmation of that dream after a talk with his mother.  Mrs. Gloria James told her son to be happy, and for LeBron, joining Wade and Bosh in Miami was, in his words last night, "a dream come true."  And when asked how LeBron would deal with criticism by Cleveland fans, James explained, and I paraphrase, "as long as my connection with the man above stays strong, everything will be fine."  In other words, LeBron will be a simple kind of man in Miami.  You know, the kind of guy everyone can love, and understand?  Unless you're a disappointed fan, or, worse, Cavs' majority owner, Dan Gilbert.

In perhaps the strangest twist last night, Gilbert, in response following ESPN's coverage of LeBron, wrote an open letter to Cleveland in Comic Sans MS.  The letter bashed James mercilessly, in an ex-girlfriend fashion, or perhaps in the spirit of a 12-year-old diehard fan.  In the letter, Gilbert guarantees the Cavaliers, now without James, will win an NBA Championship before LeBron does.  Except, the last time LeBron teamed up with his friends, it turned out to be pretty successful.  Gilbert has his work cut out for him.

LeBron's decision, and the rumor of a Miami summit, brings us back to the first major "offseason" decision by a much younger James, a decision which led to St. Vincent–St. Mary High School.  LeBron, and his middle school friends, looked around the area for a high school which would allow all four of them to play together for the next four years.  Ten years later, LeBron is going through all of the same motions with a new set of friends.

LeBron is expected to sign a five year contract to play for Miami with Wade and Bosh, a pair of guys who share LeBron's 2003 Draft Class and joined James in 2008 to become part of what would later be coined the "Redeem Team," the United States' answer to the "Dream Team" during the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing.  The trio helped the U.S. regain gold medal status after falling short in 2004 to Greece.

Getting back to the Wizards, Hinrich is another guy in that 2003 Draft Class.  Washington is getting a proven combo guard in Kirk and a project big in Kevin Seraphin, that much we know.  But the bottom line is the Wizards gave up hardly anything to get both players.  Hinrich should immediately help develop a young John Wall, while Seraphin has a pro body to shape.  He isn't a skinny kid at 6'9" 260 and he will bring a toughness with him once he comes over from his home country of France.

Today, Yi Jianlian is expected to be officially introduced as a Wizard, while Mike Miller is rumored to sign with the Heat.  Neither Hinrich or Seraphin are expected to suit up for the Las Vegas Summer League games, which begin Sunday for the Wizards.  The games will air on both Comcast Sportsnet and NBATV in addition to broadband access via Summer League Broadband.  Stay tuned!

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