How about a Big 4 in Miami instead of the championship trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh? Reports indicate as the Heat officials focus on winning a third straight NBA title, their thoughts linger on wooing the impending free agent and New York Knicks star forward.
Sources told ESPN.com that Heat officials and the team’s leading players have already started to explore their options for creating sufficient financial flexibility to make an ambitious run at adding this summer in free agency.
The mere concept would require the stars James, Wade and 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.
With cooperation from their stars and role players Udonis Hslem and Chris Anderson, who also have 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, although team president Pat Riley will have to contend with a handful of cap holds for pending free agents as well as their upcoming first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in the draft later this month.
