Heat Seeking LeBron for a Big-Time Big Three

King James is scheduled to announce his decision on Thursday at 9 p.m. Eastern time, one day after Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both revealed they will sign with the Miami Heat.

With all due respect to the Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, James, Wade and Bosh would comprise a Big Three unlike any the NBA has ever seen. And there have been some pretty good trios on NBA title-winning teams:

• The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.

• Horace Grant was the third wheel with Jordan and Pippen for the 1991-92 Chicago Bulls.

• Willis Reed, Walt Frazier and Dick Barnett led the 1969-70 New York Knicks.

• The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers had Gail Goodrich, Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain.

• Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy were the primary stars for the 1986-87 Los Angeles Lakers.

• The 1985-86 Boston Celtics had Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale.

• Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Joe Dumars were a pretty solid trifecta for the 1988-89 Detroit Pistons.

• And don't forget Bill Russell, Sam Jones and John Havlicek for the 1964-65 Boston Celtics.

There have been other great trios throughout NBA history, of course, but in the modern era, putting together three All-Star-caliber - no, make that Olympic gold medalist-caliber - players on the same roster is an impressive and unheard-of achievement. Most NBA locker rooms are only big enough for one superstar's ego, because the big guys generally don't like to share the spotlight or the lion's share of the team's salary allotment.

If Miami can lure James, it will mean the Heat have figured out a way to give each star a big enough piece of the pie, financially.

Whether there will be enough spotlight - and scoring - to go around, and whether the Heat's ancillary players can fill their roles and contribute enough to make a title run ... only time will tell.

Sources:
Top 10 Teams in NBA History, NBA.com
Wade, Bosh on board with Heat, ESPN.com