Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have chosen to become teammates in Miami, sparking a power shift that could turn spectacular if LeBron James — the greatest NBA free agent of them all — decides to join them.

Wade and Bosh made their announcement together in a live interview on ESPN early Wednesday afternoon. Wade, a 28-year-old guard, and Bosh, a 26-year-old power forward, were two of the most coveted players in the heralded 2010 free agent class. They also are close friends and spoke throughout the process about joining forces somewhere. They chose Miami, where Wade has played his entire seven-year career. Bosh has played his seven previous seasons for the Toronto Raptors.

"I'm joining Mr. Wade in Miami," Bosh, smiling widely, told ESPN via satellite.

Wade, also interviewed by satellite, but from a different location, called Bosh's decision "just an unbelievable opportunity for me to play with someone of his caliber."

Wade has spent his entire career with the Heat, winning an NBA championship in 2006 with Shaquille O'Neal as his frontcourt partner. Bosh, a perennial All-Star, will be the best teammate Wade has had since O'Neal was traded to Phoenix in 2008.

Now, both players wait for the decision of James, who is weighing offers from his own team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the Heat, the Chicago Bulls, the Knicks, the Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The three stars, who were teammates on the United States Olympic team in 2008 and who are good friends off the court, spoke with each other often during the free agency process. Wade and Bosh declined, however, to offer any insight about James's intentions, or how likely he is to join them.

"Of course, we would love for LeBron to join Miami," Wade said. "Who wouldn't?"

The Heat do not have the salary-cap room to give all three players a maximum contract. That could be overcome if Bosh agrees to a sign-and-trade deal with Toronto, his former team, or if any of the stars accept less than the maximum.

Significantly, both Bosh and Wade said they are willing to take less money to make the partnership possible.

"This decision right here is about winning," Wade said. "And it's about winning multiple championships."

He added, "It's not a money situation. I'm not opposed to taking less money than the max number."

Based on their years of service, Bosh, Wade and James — who were all drafted in 2003 — are eligible to make about $16.5 million each in the first year of a new contract. Under NBA rules, each can make about $125 million over six years by signing with his own team, or about $95.7 million over five years with another team. James and Bosh could only get the maximum in years and dollars by convincing their teams to agree to sign-and-trade deals.

The Raptors have indicated they would be amenable to such a deal. The Cavaliers have hinted that they would not trade James, even if it meant losing him for nothing.

If James, Wade and Bosh do value being teammates over earnings, the bookkeeping and complicated transactions will become a moot point. In the ESPN interview, Wade and Bosh said contract terms had not yet been settled.

James will announce his decision tonight on ESPN in a one-hour show called "The Decision," that starts at 8 p.m. He will make the statement from a studio in Greenwich, Conn., according to a person informed of the plans. The location was first reported by Newsday.

Greenwich is about 18 miles east of the Knicks' training center in Greenburgh, N.Y., and about 34 miles northeast of Madison Square Garden. It is also 67 miles south of ESPN's headquarters in Bristol, Conn. Whether any of this is relevant to anything about James's decision is unknown.

According to a statement on James's Web site, the proceeds generated by the show will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

"Due to the unprecedented attention and interest surrounding LeBron's decision, we have decided to make this announcement on national television," Maverick Carter, James's longtime business manager, said in the statement.

James entertained pitches from six teams last week: the Knicks, Heat, Cavaliers, Bulls, Nets and Clippers. He, too, was trying to pair with Bosh somewhere, an option that has been eliminated unless he picks Miami.

The other elite big man on the market this summer, Amare Stoudemire, has agreed to terms with the Knicks, who still have room under the salary cap for another maximum contract.

James's destination remains a mystery as he circulated at his basketball camp in Akron this week. On Wednesday, incoming Cavaliers Coach Byron Scott spent about an hour at the camp watching James play pickup.

"I'm always hopeful," Scott said before driving off.

James left his camp later Wednesday afternoon without speaking to reporters.