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LeBron James: 5 reasons to join the Phoenix Suns

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 11, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James prior to the game against the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 6, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) guards Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) during the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Carmelo Anthony Team-Up Is Possible In Phoenix

It wasn’t long ago that the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks were the only teams in the conversation for being able to sign both LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony this summer. The two superstars from the 2003 NBA Draft have remained close friends during their time in the league and pairing them together would unleash a dynamic scoring duo unlike anything the league has seen in a long time.

Add the Phoenix Suns to the list of teams that can make that happen. The Suns would have to shed about $10 million in salary to be able to sign both LeBron and Melo to max contracts, but they could easily do so while keeping their promising core of Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Miles Plumlee intact. Yes, you read that right: Both LeBron AND Melo would get the max contracts they want.

It’s not just Melo either. If LeBron would rather bring Bosh with him this summer or Kevin Love next summer, that’s doable too.

Everything that applies to LeBron applies to Melo here as well. Anthony is torn between getting the max deal he wants and taking a discount to be on a title contender. He’s also inching closer to the final years of his prime, which means the Suns’ training staff could extend his career like we saw with Steve Nash, Grant Hill and countless others.

Imagine a starting lineup of Dragic, Bledsoe, LeBron, Melo and Plumlee. While interior defense would be an issue for that frontcourt, is there any doubt that lineup would be one of the league’s most athletic, impossible-to-stop offenses? Good luck stopping that team on the fast break or in the half court with Dragic, Bledsoe and LeBron all capable of penetrating and finishing or finding open perimeter shooters. If LeBron wants a potential Melo team-up to happen and actually be effective, there’s no better place for that than Phoenix.