The thought is tantalizing: The Heat's Dwyane Wade and Cleveland's LeBron James playing alongside each other as teammates.

Wade said Wednesday ``it really could'' happen, though he cautioned the odds are against it even though both can be unrestricted free agents next summer.

If it did, it would be more likely to happen in Miami than in Cleveland -- because the Heat has the cap space to sign two maximum-salary free agents (Wade and another player) in 2010, and Cleveland could sign only one maximum-salary player unless it can dump multiyear contracts.

``It's something we've talked about, of course,'' Wade said of playing together. ``No question, it's a long shot. He's put in position in Cleveland where he has the opportunity to compete for a championship now. I'm in Miami, where I've won a championship and this is where I love to be. So it's not like we're both looking over our shoulders saying we want to get out of here. So it's a long shot. But at the end of the day, it is a shot.''

James' Cavaliers visit AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday for a game filled with subplots. There's Shaquille O'Neal's return to Miami as an opposing player, his second visit since his February 2008 trade to Phoenix. There is James vs. Wade.

And there is speculation about the possibility -- however unlikely -- of James teaming up with Wade next season, buzz fueled by James saying last Friday that ``there are a lot of great . . . players I would love to'' play with. James also said winning is more important to him than signing a maximum contract.

Before Cleveland's game Wednesday in Orlando, James said, ``Me and D-Wade have been friends for seven or eight years and have talked about a lot of things. [Playing together] may have come up in a conversation. . . . It doesn't come up all the time.''

James then was asked again to discuss the chance of playing with Wade next season. ``Honestly, this free agent talk is getting old. . . .'' James responded. ``I don't want to have any more distractions to my teammates, my organization, to myself and my family. So this will be the last time I answer a free agent question for the rest of the year.''

Wade was more forthcoming, saying, ``He's one of my good friends and we both decided at the same time to sign that same contract to give ourselves the ability to control our own destiny. If we want to, we can team up. If not, we can stay separate and compete against each other for years.''

Asked if he believes playing in Miami appeals to James, Wade said, ``I know the city appeals to a lot of guys, but I don't know, in his heart of hearts, how it appeals to him. I know LeBron really enjoys being the quote-unquote savior for Cleveland, a place that he grew up.''

PLAYING WHAT IF?

Does Wade ever wonder about how it would work playing with James? ``I've seen that on Olympic teams,'' he said of teaming with James and other stars. ``But I don't go to sleep thinking what if . . . they had the same Heat jersey I had on, because that's so far out there.''

Wade plays primarily shooting guard, James mostly small forward. Wade said he doesn't know how two superstar wing players would do as teammates, though Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen won championships together in Chicago.

``History shows you need a big man to win championships,'' Wade said. ``But you don't know until you do it.''

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