NBA Free Agency: Teams eyeing LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony
Miami Heat:
If we’re going to be completely transparent here, the Heat have the best (but still unrealistic) shot of landing LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Why? Because LeBron’s most likely free agency destination still feels like Miami until he comes out and says otherwise. If Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh opt out of their contracts and the three agree to take less money, Carmelo Anthony becomes a real possibility.
LeBron and Melo both leaving for LA feels like a pipe dream, especially after watching Dwight Howard give the Lakers the cold shoulder a year ago. Cleveland is a lovely fantasy, but Cleveland probably doesn’t hold as much appeal for Melo as it does for LeBron. And as much as we shouldn’t write off Atlanta, the Hawks just don’t have the kind of appeal these other three destinations have.
LeBron may be sending message to Pat Riley "upgrade or else" but he knows Riley couldn't upgrade without big three opt-out, sacrifices.
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) June 24, 2014
Miami, however, has tons of appeal for both players. For LeBron, Cleveland and Miami are probably the only places in the league he could go this summer that wouldn’t come with tons of backlash for leaving yet another successful organization. But even leaving Miami would bring out a few haters since the Heat are coming off four consecutive Finals appearances. Leaving Miami would only enhance his reputation among the haters as a disloyal championship chaser who wants to take the easy road. It’s time to trust in Pat Riley, the NBA’s version of Tywin Lannister.
As for Melo, the incentive for joining Miami starts and ends with what the Big Three decide to do. If they take less money to make enough room to sign him, and if Melo is okay with A) taking way less money and B) the public perception that he couldn’t win a title on his own, Miami is his best option to win his first championship. Having four of the top-five picks from the 2003 NBA Draft would put Miami on the fast-track to the Finals in a weak conference and Anthony could provide the secondary scoring punch that Wade looks like he might not be able to provide anymore.
All in all, the likelihood of a LeBron James-Carmelo Anthony superstar union seems a bit far-fetched right now, but 2014 free agency is shaping up to be an epic spectacle this summer either way. And besides, a lot of people thought Miami’s Big Three was a pipe dream in 2010 too.