Could the Big 3 become the Big 4 next year?

[Nanogeek]

Going into the 2014 offseason, Pat Riley could have the same situation he had in the 2011 offseason. Almost a complete blank slate with no salary cap commitments.

LeBron, DWade, Bosh, Haslem, and Anthony each have player options in the 2014 offseason. Lets assume Anthony and Haslem don't exercise their options. So that's $8.4m in salary commitments. Assume a salary cap of $60m in 2014. So the Heat have $51.6m in salary to spend.

Assume $1m in draft pick cap holds. Heat have their 2014 pick which will likely be at the bottom of the first round. Heat have rights to the 76ers 2014 pick (Moultrie trade) but its top 14 protected and its highly unlikely the 76ers will be making the playoffs next season.

Assume $3m for the remaining roster slot cap holds. That's 12 roster slots - 2 slots for Haslem/Anthony - 3 slots for the Big 3 (plan is to resign them) - 1 slot for draft pick or 6 slots * $500k = $3m.

So the Heat would have $47.6m to work with. Lets look at the Big 3 earnings. LeBron reportedly is earning $56.45m this year ($17m from salary and $39m from endorsements). DWade is estimated to earn $28.682m in 2013 ($17.182m salary + $11.5m endorsements). Chris Bosh is estimated to earn $18.545m ($17.545m in salary and $1m in endorsements).

The Heat would need to clear sufficient room to land a $15m per year free agent. This is less than the max but with the existing Big 3 accepting less than max money the person being added would need to agree to this also.

Obviously, LeBron is the most marketable player on the team and DWade is very marketable as well. Both of these guys only stand to gain by continuing to win championships so they are the most able and (should be) willing to accept a salary pay cut. Bosh is not as marketable so he'd want to give up less in salary.

The proposal:

To land a $15m player that means LeBron, DWade and Bosh need to split $32.6m. A possibility would be as follows: $15m for Bosh, $9m for DWade and $8.6m for LeBron.

The fourth player:

Setting aside sign and trades, there are only two players that have the talent level to justify the Big 3 taking such a pay cut: (1) Kobe and (2) Carmelo Anthony. Frankly, I think it is highly unlikely that Kobe will ever leave the Lakers. If the Lakers strike out in the 2014 offseason I think Kobe will either retire or tough it out 1-2 more seasons with LA. Though don't dismiss Kobe's desire for a 6th ring. It could happen! But I wouldn't count on it. That leaves Carmelo.

I think this 2013-14 season is going to be very frustrating for Carmelo. Amare is dead weight and is signed through 2014-15 (he won't opt out obviously). The team has gone backwards in my opinion though no doubt Woodson will get the best that can be had from the Knicks crew. Carmelo will have been in the league for 11 season and never seen a championship game (much less a ring).

I can see Riley working his magic. Setting his rings on the table and talking about 3-4 more championships with a team of LeBron at PF, Carmelo at SF, DWade at SG and Bosh at C. What are Carmelo's other options? He could go to the Lakers but with an aging Kobe, a geriatric Nash and a questionable coach that Carmelo didn't like in NY - I don't see Carmelo running to the Lakers. The two other strong options are the Bulls could amnesty Boozer and go for Melo I suppose and if the Cavs really gel (Bynum returns to form) they could offer an enticing opportunity for Carmelo. But in both cases Melo wouldn't be "the man" necessarily and if he isn't going to be "the man" then why not not be "the man" on the Heat with 3 other future HOFers?

The other Melo possibilities are doubtful. Dallas is another option assuming Dirk takes a big paycut. Detroit will have enough deadweight contracts coming off the books to make a run at Melo. San Antonio could make a run but they will be really old. Wizards could make a bid also but that' won't be a strong situation either. The rest of the teams with cap space I don't see as realistic possibilities (Magic, 76ers, Suns, Kings, Jazz)

I called the Big 3 coming together a month before it happened. I'm less confident a Big 4 would happen. But it could. And I think the scenario above is the most likely possibility.

Sign and trades offer up lots of possibilities but I highly doubt a team will assist the Heat in securing the title for the next 3-4 years.

[RexBoyWonder]

Melo aint coming here, it's a pipe dream. And we dont need him either. I would much rather add Kyle Lowry + Gortat, would make much more sense. would give us a killer starting 5 with great depth on the bench.

[marson]

2014 would be a great oppurtunity for us. Re-signing the Big 3, of course is one of our top priorities and also a chance for our team to get younger, there are plenty of young PG, C and a bunch of good role players that can fit to our system.

PG Lowry / Cole or Chalmers
SG Wade / Shannon Brown
SF James / Quincy Pondexter
PF Chris Bosh / Shane Battier
C Gortat or Bogut / Andersen

I much rather have this kind of lineup rather than Melo with our team and if riley can pull this, the world would be totally mad again.

[GameTime_3]

You are really on something, if you think Anthony won't excerise his option. The dude is a borderline NBA player getting paid 3.8 million. The dude already has the FAX ready to go. Our only hope is that this year, we move Anthony + Picks for expiring.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

Only way I see something like this happening is if Oden is that fourth guy, and we can get him on a reasonable deal like 8 million a season or something (assuming he surpasses everyone's expectations this season).

I highly doubt Wade/Bron/Bosh take another paycut to bring in a 4th superstar caliber guy.

[Heatin4]

Melo aint coming here, it's a pipe dream. And we dont need him either. I would much rather add Kyle Lowry + Gortat, would make much more sense. would give us a killer starting 5 with great depth on the bench.

Yeah that Fat Boy would never amount to much than a waste of space at the SF position. Securing those two instead would mean the Heat would make endless runs for glory.

[Heat_Fan_87]

No.

And **** no to brining melo here. Guy is a cancer.

[LoveMyHeat]

"and $8.6m for LeBron"

Laughable.

[NBAMcGee23]

But didn't Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis make up the Big 5?!

[DivineFury]

I just hope the big 3 resign with no drama/squabbling, after that whatever we can get I will be happy with.

[bushybrah_]

But..there's only one ball.

[Nanogeek]

You are really on something, if you think Anthony won't excerise his option. The dude is a borderline NBA player getting paid 3.8 million. The dude already has the FAX ready to go. Our only hope is that this year, we move Anthony + Picks for expiring.

You don't understand I don't think. The player option is to opt OUT of his contract. My point is Anthony will NOT exercise his option to opt out of his contract. We are in agreement that he won't avoid a chance to get paid $3.8m in 2014-15 because he won't get it somewhere else.

[Nanogeek]

"and $8.6m for LeBron"

Laughable.

Not really. LeBron makes almost $40m per year from endorsements alone. The money he'd give up in NBA salary he'd make several times over in additional endorsement money if he was a 4x, 5x, 6x NBA champion.

[Heat_Fan_87]

what i see happening is lebron signing a 4 year deal with 1st year salary around 16mil. I see wade signing a 5 year deal starting around 16 as well. Bosh i think resigns a 4 year deal around 16 as well.

If they all just resign with salaries starting around 15mil, that gives us a bunch of flexibility. A lot will depend on what happens next season.

[ndnow]

Haslem and Anthony are the only ones I see exercising there options no doubt about it.

[NBAMcGee23]

"and $8.6m for LeBron"

Laughable.

Not really. LeBron makes almost $40m per year from endorsements alone. The money he'd give up in NBA salary he'd make several times over in additional endorsement money if he was a 4x, 5x, 6x NBA champion.

I know this board is for Heat fans, but lol this has homer written all over it

[DefenseWins]

The proposal:

To land a $15m player that means LeBron, DWade and Bosh need to split $32.6m. A possibility would be as follows: $15m for Bosh, $9m for DWade and $8.6m for LeBron.

LOL

We really take LeBron for granted. We really do. You're asking the BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME to take less money than BOSH and WADE. LeBron is easily the guy who should be paid the most to STAY. He is in his prime for god's sake. So what if he get's money from endorsements, this is his job. He does want rings, but we don't know his expenses and he does have a family, come on man. Also what if something were to happen to his endorsements? If he keeps winning, yes they will grow. But what if next year is a failure? He won't be taking no damn 8mil the next year LOL. He is asked to play every position, be the closer, be the point guard, be the best defensive player, and now to take the LEAST amount of money? lol

We aren't going to get a 4th star. Have people forgotten how hard it was for LBJ/Wade/Bosh to share the damn ball, and then you want the ULTIMATE BALL STOPPER in Carmelo Anthony? Kobe isn't going anywhere either. He is a prideful, arrogant guy. He wants the players to be in his house while he takes 30mil. It would also be a huge ass insult if he were to come to the Heat WHILE taking more money than LeBron. This dude is running on HIGH mileage and is a chucker.

We do not need another big star. We do need players who can be impactful though. A player that is like a younger Shane Battier or even a capable Center would be great. We just have to build around the Big 3, not get ANOTHER star. It's cheaper to get other role players anyway. Another sniper is fine too. Ray and Shane will retire and we lost Miller. Next year the Heat will work to get the Big 3 back and get snipers to rinse and repeat July 2010.

[LikeABosh]

No.

And **** no to brining melo here. Guy is a cancer.

He's not a cancer. Poor choice of words

[Chosen01]

Yes I'd say he's a black hole.

[LikeABosh]

Yes I'd say he's a black hole.

Slightly more accurate. But LBJ and him together would be godly offensively

Then again, we already have a great offense