The dust has barely settled on a one-sided NBA Finals defeat for Miami, but it’s time to look forward.
The number one priority for owner Micky Arison and Pat Riley is to have LeBron James in a Miami uniform for 2014/15 and beyond.
He is the best player in the NBA and it is a no brainer to have him at the top of your roster, no matter how high the salary.
As we know LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all signed for a lot less money to play together in 2010 to challenge for championships. Miami have won two titles but after being beaten by a great Spurs team they need to retool quickly.
The Big Three can opt into their current deals for 2014/15 and each will be paid about 20 million dollars. The NBA salary cap for next season is about 63 million dollars.
Norris Cole is the only player that is guaranteed of being with Miami, meaning that the other 11 players will all come in above the salary cap. Arison will then have to pay a very large sum in luxury tax to complete the roster.
Arison already amnestied Mike Miller last season to save himself 15 million dollars. I highly doubt he and Riley will be able to construct a team to win the title unless the Big Three sacrifice even further money. The way this can happen is if they opt out of their current deals.
My way of looking at it is Dwyane Wade must sacrifice salary and a starting role to be a sixth man if Miami are to get better. He has been a legend with the Heat since 2003 but if they want to challenge again next season the sacrifice needs to start with him.
Bosh wants to stay so I can see him sacrificing a few million dollars per season to challenge for more titles.
If each of the Big three sign for roughly 15 million then that will leave enough cap space to have a deeper and more youthful roster. There was talk of Carmelo Anthony joining the Heat to make it a Big Four but I can’t see it happening from a money point of view.
Carmelo is due $23 million this season with New York so would have to give up about half of that to go to Miami. Even if it were to come to fruition, the Big Four would take up all 63 million dollars on the salary cap.
The Big Three are entitled to opt in and take their large salaries but if they want to compete for titles again and keep LeBron, then sacrifice is the only option.
I certainly hope they sacrifice salary to give Pat Riley enough room to get some younger players like a Patty Mills in at point guard, who can help LeBron in his quest to win a third ring in 2015.
The next month or two will definitely be interesting for Miami fans and the NBA alike. What new players can you see possibly ending up in Miami alongside the Big Three if they return this season?
Joe
Guest
Even if Bosh & Wade restructure their contracts it dosent get to the core of the problem. Wade is done.Physically he is shot, his knees are gone. Miami nursed Wade thru the season & got away with it only because the Eastern Conference was so bad Bosh is on the downside if his career also. So even if those 2 restructure deals you still have 2 past their prime players as part of a so-called "Big3". Unless Wade is gonna take a huge cut in pay ( which is highly unlikely) the Heat are in a tough spot going forward If Wade opts in on the 2yr/$40 mil deal then LeBron is out the door. Will be interesting to see what happens in nexr 10 days or so.
josh
Roar Rookie
Don't forget James Ennis is on their list, sure it was the NBL. But he can play
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Best case scenario for Miami would be Wade opting out and signing elsewhere. Personally I think any team offering him 50mil over 4 years is crazy
astro
Guest
The Big 3 won't 'sacrifice' salary as such...they'll re-work their contracts. For example, Wade is on the books for the next 2yrs at $40mil overall. The Heat could offer him something like $50mil over the next 4yrs and re-structure his salary to pay him, $15mil in year 1 and 2 and and $10mil in 3 and 4. So, the Heat shave money off their payroll short term, Wade gets more money for a longer contract, and everyone is happy. They could do the same thing for Bosh, and save more money short term that way, although I'd doubt Lebron would be as generous. He's the best player in the league and would expect to be paid more than Brooke Lopez. The players they'd try and sign will be really interesting. Rumours are they'll chase Kyle Lowry who'd be a nice fit, but the need is really in the middle. Another year of Haslem, Birdman and Oden won't suffice...