Could Carmelo Anthony join LeBron James and the Heat for a Big 4?
MIAMI — Whether or not the Miami Heat pull off the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, this much is already clear: Their super-team that was formed four summers ago could use another superstar if this championship run is going to continue.
If Heat President Pat Riley can work his free agency magic in July like he did back in 2010, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony may be that man.
As USA TODAY Sports first reported, LeBron James has a strong desire to play with his close friend that appears to have sparked a new strategy in South Florida. Alas, a Heat roster that includes James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Anthony is entirely possible if they're all willing to make some serious sacrifices.
And no one would sacrifice more than Anthony.
All four players can become free agents this summer or return to their teams on their current contracts, but the Heat — who could have as little as $2.8 million on their 2014-15 payroll if everyone opts out — could indeed squeeze Anthony onto their already-loaded roster if all involved agreed to paycuts of a third or more off their current salaries. The three Heat players all make approximately $20 million, while Anthony is making $21.4 million this season.
Wade's chronic knee problems are a factor in this new formula, as he missed 28 games during the regular season and James' already-heavy load was increased all along the way. Anthony, 30, is a possible remedy on that front, as he could not only help James with the scoring duties, but also free him up to focus on the defensive end in ways that simply weren't there last season. For Anthony's part, the chance to win a championship after 11 seasons of falling short is clearly his focus at the moment.
But at what price for the seven-time All-Star who pushed his way out of Denver in 2011 just to get to the Big Apple? A staggering one.
The notion that he may be willing to play along with this plan is the most surprising part of all, as he already stands to lose approximately $33 million if he signs a maximum level deal anywhere other than New York and would need to give back a whole lot more than that to get to Miami. With the Knicks able to offer him a five-year deal and everyone else limited to four-year pitches, Anthony could — hypothetically speaking — find himself signing a four-year, $50 million deal with the Heat and bypassing a five-year, $129 million contract from New York. What's more, anyone assuming he could simply recoup some of the funds from the lost year on his next contract needs to remember that he'd be 34 years old at that point.
Like Wade and Bosh, Anthony simply doesn't have James' level of off-court income to help soften the blow to his bottom line. While James was recently ranked as the third highest-paid athlete in professional sports ($72.3 million annually, with $53 million in endorsements), Anthony was 24th ($29.4 million). It's James' willingness to consider all these unorthodox options that is driving this conversation among the stars, and that has everything to do with his booming business off of the floor.
According to a person with knowledge of the situation, he recently earned more than $30 million — nearly $11 million more than his Heat salary for this season — by way of Apple's $3 billion purchase of the Beats Electronics company in which James was a part-owner. Translation: He can afford to pay the steep price it would take to make room for his longtime friend who entered the league with him in 2003. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the personal nature of the information.
It's unclear whether Wade and Bosh are willing to make the same sort of sacrifice, but both players have made it clear in the past that they prefer to stay in Miami. Their business portfolios pale in comparison to James' and their player salaries — according to the Forbes piece — make up almost all of their annual earnings (Wade was listed as the 23rd highest-paid athlete and fifth among NBA players at $29.9 million in annual earnings; Bosh was 57th overall, 13th among NBA players at $21.8 million annually). Yet as they know as well as anyone, winning titles and leaving a lasting legacy is often a priceless endeavor.
But the question, again, is what might it all mean for Anthony? In terms of the basketball fit and how Anthony might be perceived, the lesson learned from the 2012 Olympics would seem to apply here. Despite being a sixth man on the star-studded team, Anthony showcased all that was good about his game and played as big a part as anyone in the gold medal run. Players often get less picky about how they win their first title when Father Time starts knocking on their door, and Wade's uncertain physical state means Anthony could find himself as the indisputable No. 2 man in Miami by the time they raise another Larry O' Brien Trophy.
He would be criticized for leaving New York, to be sure. But much like Dwight Howard with his decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers and sign with the Houston Rockets last summer, the willingness to leave that kind of money on the table would quiet some of the critics. Or, of course, Anthony could listen to some of the other compelling pitches that will be coming his way if he opts out.
Anthony could take the route that new President Phil Jackson is hoping for and delay his own free agency one season. The Knicks' books clear up in the summer of 2015, and Anthony and James could partner up in the Big Apple then. If not, he'll have ample options in the free agency season that is shaping up to be more wild than it initially seemed.
The Houston Rockets are expected to be extremely aggressive on the free agency and trade front, as they want to pair another star with Dwight Howard and James Harden (James, not surprisingly, is their top target). As USA TODAY Sports reported on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers may not hire a new coach until July, in part, because they also plan to be aggressive in free agency and don't want to limit their options by making the wrong hire. Teams the league over are hoping the Spurs can win these Finals and perhaps inspire a Heat break-up that sends stars their way.
There will still be super-teams next season, in other words. It's just a matter of where.
