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Got this in an email:
1. "We can create a Dream Team in Miami."
In November, I spoke to a Heat source who put forth an idea that sounded compelling though farfetched: Miami could team Wade with LeBron and Chris Bosh this summer. I detailed the possible scenarios here, but let's review with updated salary-cap numbers given the league's new projections of a $56.1 million cap.
Assuming the Heat re-sign Wade for the max, the team would have $23 million in cap room left this summer. That certainly would not be enough to sign both Bosh and LeBron without each player taking a significant pay cut (each player should be able to earn a max starting salary of $16.5 million). But there are at least three ways to make it happen.
Plan A: The Heat could engage in a sign-and-trade for LeBron or Bosh, most likely Bosh. Sign-and-trades are notoriously difficult to pull off. But they aren't impossible.
If Bosh and the Raptors would cooperate, for instance, the Heat could send Michael Beasley and Daequan Cook and return Toronto's No. 1 pick (owned by Miami) to the Raptors and slide Bosh in under the cap at a starting salary of around $13.5 million.
Of course, we know Bosh is unlikely to agree to a deal that starts at $13.5 million, especially if Wade and James are getting $16.5 million. But what if all three players -- close friends from Team USA -- decide to take a small pay cut to play together? If James and Wade both were to agree to a starting salary of $15.5 million, the Heat could offer Bosh $15.5 million as well.
Plan B: Another way for the Heat to make the acquisition of James and Bosh more plausible -- without the help of the Raptors -- would be to clear more cap space. For instance, they could trade Beasley and Cook to teams that have enough cap space to take on their contracts.
A number of teams will be under the salary cap, and most of them do not have a realistic shot at LeBron, Wade or Bosh. Would they be willing to use some of their money to acquire a player with Beasley's upside? What about a shooter like Cook? Even James Jones could hold some appeal for veteran teams.
Plan C: The last scenario might be the most farfetched because it would require three superstars to take a sizable pay cut. In this scenario, each player would take considerably less than market value in an attempt to leave the Heat enough wiggle room to retain Beasley and/or sign or trade for other supporting free agents in the summer.
How much of a pay cut would it take? If LeBron, Wade and Bosh all agreed to a starting salary of $14 million, the team would be able to keep Beasley and could just waive James Jones. Keeping Beasley on the roster would bolster the supporting cast, but the Heat would still be looking at filling out the roster with a number of players at the league minimum.
If the threesome agreed to a starting salary of $12 million per year, the Heat would have around $6 million in cap room to sign additional free agents. In that case, if they also moved Beasley, they could have around $11 million in cap room to sign role players.
Of the three scenarios, the first is the most likely. As I've reported, the Raptors are open to a sign-and-trade and the Cavs may be too if they know LeBron is going to walk.
So the question really is: Do Wade, LeBron and Bosh want to play together, and, if so, how much?
On the surface the answer seems obvious. They are all friends, have been teammates on Team USA and in the All-Star Game and, together, would headline the most formidable team in the league.
But there are other considerations. Going this route would force the Heat to sign a lot of role players to minimum contracts, weakening the team's bench. It also would eliminate something that LeBron and Wade both seem to enjoy -- playing against each other at the highest level. And finally, while Bosh's game would mesh with both LeBron's and Wade's, less clear is how Bron and Wade would play together. Each excels with the ball in his hands, so with both of them on the floor, there might be a shortage of touches.
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