In the lane

BOSH IS BACK: Chris Bosh has returned to the NBA — sort of. Now living in Southern California, Bosh was the guest of the Los Angeles Lakers, who now feature his former agent, Rob Pelinka, as general manager. “Spectator, encourager,” Lakers coach Luke Walton told reporters of Bosh’s role at the practice session. “He was talking to Julius [Randle] a couple times. He knows some of the guys. He didn’t really have a role other than he was here checking it out.” While a possible return to the NBA has been speculated, the reality is Bosh, who failed his 2016 Heat preseason physical after two bouts of blood clotting, has not been involved in NBA-related activity in more than a year. The agreement brokered through the National Basketball Players Association would not penalize the Heat’s salary cap or luxury tax should Bosh, who turns 34 in March, return. “That was one of my favorite players,” Lakers rookie Kyle Kuzma told the Orange County Register, after introducing himself to Bosh. “I’ve always loved his game, back when he was in Toronto and Miami. So it was pretty cool.” WADE’S ADJUSTMENT: How different is Dwyane Wade‘s world with the Cleveland Cavaliers? The former Heat guard was introduced at small forward in his preseason debut . . . although he didn’t know he was the one being introduced. “I heard, ‘Starting at forward, from Marquette . . . ,’ so immediately I was like, Jae Crowder,” Wade told Cleveland media of his fellow alum. “That’s why I came out like three seconds late. So I didn’t even hear it. I’ve never been starting at forward, so I wasn’t even paying attention.” Wade also was introduced as No. 9, the first time in his NBA career he hasn’t worn No. 3. “I heard No. 9,” Crowder said. “I’m not No. 9. He forgot what number he was, I guess. But yeah, he just heard, ‘Marquette,’ and he thought it was me. But it wasn’t me. It was him. I told him, ‘Go! It’s you.’ “THE LEBRON LESSON: Houston Rockets guard James Harden said his team adding Chris Paul or the Oklahoma City Thunder adding Carmelo Anthony and Paul George even in the face of the expected continue dominance of the Golden State Warriors is no different than when teams maneuvered amid the Heat’s Big Three run to four consecutive NBA Finals. “You look at teams out there, whether it’s the Lakers, Miami a few years ago, the Pistons, the Celtics, that’s just how it is,” Harden told the Oklahoman. “They have their run a couple of years, teams get better, they get [better] at positions and they compete. That’s no different than this past summer. Not only us and the Thunder, but the Celtics got better, even the Cavs got better. It’s the way that basketball in the NBA is built.” RIGHT PLACE: So how did Shane Larkin’s contract with the Boston Celtics come about? The Boston Globe reported that the former University of Miami guard was working out in the same Miami gym this summer where Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga was working out Boston guard Marcus Smart. Larkin, of course, had played with the Hurricanes for Larranaga’s father, Jim Larranaga. “For every player coming into the NBA, you have to find your role on your team and find out how you can add to winning and it might not be the same role you had in college,” Jay Larranaga said. “But the good players figure it out quicker than others, and I think Shane has learned a lot from his previous experiences.”