On the edge of Broadway, where the eve-ning lights flashed in Dwyane Wade's hotel room as if beckoning his new life, a delightful little script is ready. A kid from Oak Lawn who rooted for the Bulls in their dynasty years, whenever they were, should be available when it's their turn to draft tonight.

That's exactly the tonic this franchise needs, a warm and fuzzy tale, one big smile of a draft night after Jay Williams' motorcycle crash and five seasons of embarrassing futility, dizzying turnover and nonstop turmoil. It's presumably what Wade wants, too, though he wasn't sure what to believe as tension started to grip his camp late Wednesday.

"I'm not hearing anything right now. I don't want to hear anything right now,'' he said high above Times Square. "I'm trying not to read the newspaper or watch ESPN. I'll find out when they announce it. That's why the day is so special.''

But what if it's Chicago?

"Then it's Chicago. It's great,'' Wade said. "Hey, I grew up a Bulls fan and was with them through all six championships. It was unbelievable. I grew up a Michael Jordan idol. I remember the first championship, when they beat the Lakers, and I know what a great feeling it was for me. I remember John Paxson hitting the threes and stealing the victory, with Jordan making the pass to him. Being drafted by the Bulls would be real exciting for me and my family.