Cant believe Goff hasn't tweeted this yet

When the Miami Heat signed free agent stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade in the summer of 2010, it registered as an immense achievement by Pat Riley and his front office and the source of much consternation for basketball fans intent on upholding a certain ideal of competitive balance. If new reports are to be believed, then the Heat have another superstar team-up prepared for this upcoming offseason. Somehow, it's arguably even more daring and creative than the last one.


According to a new report from Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Heat are currently exploring options that would allow the franchise to add current New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony to their preexisting Big Three of James, Bosh, and Wade:

The mere concept would require the star trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to all opt out of their current contracts by the end of the month and likely take further salary reductions in new deals that start next season to give Miami the ability to offer Anthony a representative first-year salary. The Heat also are prevented from making any formal contact with Anthony until July 1 and can do so then only if he opts out of the final year of his current contract. Anthony has until June 23 to notify the Knicks of his intentions, according to sources.
But the success of the Heat's 2010 free-agent bonanza has established them as the NBA's undisputed destination franchise, with owner Micky Arison empowering big-thinking team president Pat Riley to attempt to pull off another coup in the market despite new collective bargaining agreement rules aimed at preventing it. [...]
James' off-court business is booming, thanks to a string of investments paying off massively and the prospect of new opportunities in endorsements and entertainment projects promising to expand his wealth significantly in coming years. [...]
With cooperation from their stars and role players Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen, who also possess player options for next season, the Heat could open up in excess of $50 million in cap space this summer and have the most financial flexibility in the league. The only Heat player locked into place for next season is Norris Cole at a salary of $2 million, though Riley will have to contend with a handful of cap holds for pending free agents as well as their upcoming first-round pick in the draft later this month (No. 26 overall).
It's necessary to note that this report refers to an early planning stage and not a set of imminent decisions by all involved parties. For one thing, the biggest barrier is likely out of the Heat's direct control. If Anthony chooses not to opt out of his salary, he stands to make more than $23.3 million in the last season of his current contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer. If he opts out and re-ups with the Knicks with a new max deal, he would make even more money. Because free agents can earn more money by re-signing with their current teams, signing with the Heat would require Melo to accept a salary at a lower max level even if these plans didn't require him to forgo a max salary entirely. Plus, without the global bargaining power of LeBron, Bosh, and Wade may decide that they won't have such an easy time recouping their money via endorsements and other business deals. Essentially, all four stars (to say nothing of various role players) would have to decide a championship is worth more than ludicrous amounts of money — possibly as much as eight figures in salary per season for each player — left on the table.

No matter the likelihood of this scenario coming to pass, the mere mention of it is likely to rub some fans the wrong way. In 2010, the Heat became villains for a perceived unwillingness to win fairly. LeBron, in particular, was seen as escaping the hardship of sole stardom for the comforts of a manufactured All-Star team in which championships were virtually guaranteed. While the Heat's various challenges and struggles over these past four seasons would seem to serve as evidence that no title is ever assured, the prospective acquisition of Melo would set off a whole new round of criticism, even as each player gets older and commentators ask critics to consider the past Hall of Fame teammates of past greats. James and the Heat have rebuilt their reputations, but this move would not be popular.

On the other hand, it would reinforce the idea that imposing salary cap restrictions is not a particularly good method of engendering competitive balance. During the 2011 lockout, owners used the aftermath of Miami's Big Three acquisitions to push for limitations on player movement and less lucrative contracts overall. If Miami's stars and Anthony all opt for smaller sums of money for a chance to win championships, then they essentially will have molded the same desires and incentives that existed prior to 2011 to the contours of this new collective bargaining agreement. (In fact, it's arguable that artificially limiting earning potential makes it more attractive for great players to take sub-max salaries to win.) What these player will not have done is change the essential facts or spirit of the CBA, which mostly decides the money that players and owners get to earn. Competitive balance cannot be legislated so easily.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

I really hope this happens.

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Those guys realize there only 1 ball in play in NBA basketball right?

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

#blocked

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-- source

That's well over 140 characters.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

This is meant to distract the Heat in Game 4.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

I dont think it will happen and for this reason. Would an aging rapidly declining Dwayne Wade want to open up his contract and take a lot less money? Don't think so. He is probably on his last big money contract. In addition is the fact that Chris Bosh is quoted as saying that he will not give a home town discount the next time his contract is up. He has been the person whose reputation has suffered the most because of the big three creation. Winning has not necessarily changed the perception that he is a soft player. Ironicially that perception began once he began playing for Miami. The other irony for me is that the biggest winner in the NBA the past four years are interested in the player most people rather wrongfully i believe consider to be the biggest loser. There are a lot of winning teams that would love to have Carmelo Anthony. I think that is what we are finding out now. The notion that he is a career loser that merely scores a lot of points will prove to be false. The people who sign the checks don't believe this obviously and ultimately theirs is the only opinion that matters.

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Carmelo Anthony would be a great 4th option on any team.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

He would be the second option right now on this Miami Heat team. Easily I might add.

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i know the comment was said in jest but I will play the game anyway

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I don't think scoring is the issue on the Heat.

Yes, he'd probably win a title with a bunch of hall of famers and perennial all stars. You would too.

If you really want to change the discussion to whether Anthony can contribute to a championship team we can, but I don't think many people doubt that he's good enough to team up with Lebron James and win a title.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I would find it very funny if cut throat Riley just had the three of them opt out for a wink. Then sign Lebron, Bosh and Anthony and then tell old ready to be crippled Wade or sorry this really won't work out the way we wanted.

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Elections have consequences.

Wade is like an 80's sitcom fish out of water son to him

The Bulls should then immediately show major interest in Wade and at the last minute reveal they never really wanted him and they just wanted information on what Miami was doing.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Riley wouldn't do that to Wade. He owes him.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Just call Riley "Mr. Drummond".

I really would enjoy watching this team with those 4 playing together.

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Maybe they can round it out to 5 and get Kevin Love or Chris Paul

this makes no sense, bosh and lebron arent going to take a further paycut to add melo.

Lebron is one the most endorsed athletes in the world. He also is a smart investor, and a major donor to charities. The big 3 already have taken a pay cut to play together... On the other hand, I can see Chris Bosh being traded to the Knicks in order to complete this deal. No one is really talking about it, but I can def see the Heat moving Bosh so they don't have to play him at the 5.

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I'm all for watching great players play together. We were all spoiled watching MJ, Scottie, and Rodman for three years. I'd like that feel again. That being said, I don't think Miami retains Bosh if this deal goes down. I've never truly been a big believer in Chris Bosh's game since he went to Miami.

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Wait what? That seems bizarre.

Don't you like seeing great players play against each other?

Would you enjoy these finals more if Wade, Bosh, Lebron, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili were playing together?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

In the NBA Finals great players will always inevitably play against other great players.

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To Rick's point, it would be a lot more interesting if there were a couple superteams

I agree 100%. If Houston can land Kevin Love, and somehow retain Chandler Parsons they would almost certainly qualify as a super team.

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I'll just say I disagree with that. You'd have a whole starting lineup(if Ray Allen and Bosh are there) of players with 10+ all star appearances. That won't be compelling television.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

It may be for some. I guess we'll find out if it happens.

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It's funny, I heard the erstwhile voice of the Rockford Lightning and his nodding stooge say after Miami won game 2 that Chris Bosh is really good spoken in hushed reverent tones yet they seem to shit on Joakim Noah every chance they get. Bosh was 16 and 6 this year , Noah was 12.5 and 11 and the DPOY. So because Bosh averages 3.5 points more a game he's soooo good while Noah beats him everywhere else and he's just a stumbling buffoon? Help me out here basketball fans.

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

Well to me the Toronto Bosh was strong (offense) where Noah is weak, and vice versa. Since moving to Miami bosh has sacrificed his numbers, but I think it's safe to say that he would have continued being a 20+ 12 player if he never left Toronto.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

WEST POINT, N.Y. -- New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony believes he's the "most overrated" star player in the NBA.

"I think I'm the most overrated superstar that's out there (laughs) but that doesn't matter to me," Anthony told ESPN's Chris Broussard.

Anthony was responding to a question about the possibility that he's overrated because he hasn't yet won an NBA title.

"I know what I'm capable of doing. I know the selfishness and the lack of effort I put in to this," Anthony said. "I know how consistent I've been over my career. To do it day in and day out and night in and night out on a very consistent basis year in year out, I know what I can do and I know the work I could have put in."

"So as far as caring about if I'm overrated as a superstar, and getting the respect I don't deserve, I don't worry about that. In due time, if everything goes well, I'll jump on [Lebron] James' coat tails."

Anthony is undoubtedly one of the least efficient scorers in basketball. He won the NBA's scoring title in 2012-13 and finished second to Kevin Durant last season, at great sacrifice to his team's overall success. But Anthony's individual accolades have directly contributed to his teams performing at a subpar level.

Anthony's teams have made the playoffs in 10 of his 11 seasons in the NBA but have advanced past the second round just once.

Some erroneously equate that to a lack of talent surrounding Anthony. Others accurately use it as a way to critique the seven-time All-Star.

Anthony was asked by Broussard if he's bothered by the idea that he's not known to be in the same class as LeBron James and Durant -- the men widely recognized as the top two players in the NBA.

"I thought being in New York, on the East Coast, would help me out more." he said. "These (analysts) are all people that maybe never accomplish anything, but sure know how to pull the wool over casual sports fans. That just sit back and write articles all day long about how great teams and players over here are. They're kind of living through us out there on the basketball court. "Lala worries about me being put up there. I know night in and night out there is a chance she could leave me for Nate Robinson if I don't put up 50 points."

Anthony tested free agency over the summer and entertained offers from Chicago, the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston and Dallas.

But the 30-year old ultimately decided to return to the Knicks, signing a five-year, $124 million contract.

Earlier this week, he said he was motivated to return to New York, in part, due to "gotta get that cheddar, nah mean?"

"I kind of forced my way to New York [in 2011], all other offers were non-guaranteed invites to camp," Anthony said Monday. "I need to be showered with undeserved praise and undeserved money."

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_ ... tar-player

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.