The 10th anniversary of the formation of the Miami Heat Big 3 has brought to light several lost nuggets from what was one of the most spectacular offseasons in NBA history. Chris Bosh, who joined LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in South Beach that summer, supposedly had verbally committed to the Chicago Bulls prior to signing on the dotted line for Pat Riley and company.

ESPN's Nick Friedell, who covered the Bulls at the time, noted as much during a podcast appearance next to colleague Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective.

Via RealGM:

“Chris Bosh, according to more than one person in the organization, said ‘I'm coming to play for the Bulls.' Straight up,” said Friedell. “He said, ‘I'm coming to play for the Bulls. This is where I'm gonna be.'”

The Big 3 were looking for a team to host them, and Chicago was one of those potential spots:

“To me the story and conversation starts with Chris Bosh,” said Friedell. “Because you talk to people in that Bulls' organization, including former players… Chris Bosh said he was coming to the Bulls, straight up.

“Chris Bosh and the Bulls were supposed to be together, at least in Chicago's mind. And then as that week played out, as I know you get into in the story, they went ‘What's happening here?'

“As far as the Bulls were concerned, they felt like they had a commitment, at least some people in the organization did, from Chris Bosh. They felt like Dwyane Wade would follow. That they hoped that would work out, especially as the days continued into that first weekend.

“Then to see everything kind of fall apart in that fashion and see all three of the big guns go to Miami the way they did, frankly, I still don't think the Bulls are all the way over it.”

Windhorst did a deep dive into the situation, as there were several hurdles to the trio of Wade, James, and Bosh coming together under one roof in Chicago and elsewhere.

Somehow through all the difficulties, James and company managed to mastermind their way to the same roster, leaving the Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, and other suitors high and dry in the process. Chicago wound up with Carlos Boozer as its main prize that summer.