Oh gotcha. So we would have to get a little bit creative with out bench. Even if we used vet minimum to fill out the rest of our bench (Marion? Sefolosha?), we would still have a combination of young talents to go with them as well, which was something Miami never really had.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Multiple teams clearing cap space for potential LeBron/Melo pairing (via <a href="https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN">@WindhorstESPN</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine">@ESPNSteinLine</a>). <a href="http://t.co/D2eKdV66CX">http://t.co/D2eKdV66CX</a></p>— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/statuses/481470573407518721">June 24, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even if they could clear the cap space, how does Kobe or the Lakers convince Lebron and Carmello to to come play for less than the max when Kobe wasn't willing to take a pay cut?
LeBron opting out means he's keeping his options open. At this point it's on Wade to decide what he wants to do. If he opts out as well, that means he is willing to renegotiate his contract and take a pay cut. If not, then LeBron has no choice but to leave. I guess he can stay in Miami as well but that team is not getting better anytime soon.
Bosh is the one that has the most to lose If he opts out . . . with out wade - Does he get as much money? He *has* to wait on Wade . . .. IMO Rocket River
One thing to note is that unlike Melo, LeBron can be signed by the Rockets for almost his theoretical max, which is not possible with Melo. Melo's absolute max starts at about $22.5mil. LeBron's absolute max starts about $20mil. This is important, because the Rockets can come up with $18~19mil of capspace while retaining Harden, Parsons, Beverley, Howard, and Jones. I use estimate because players like Canaan and Troy Daniels as well as our 1st round pick can take up slightly extra room if LeBron (should he choose Houston) be willing to take a slightly deeper paycut. But worse comes to worst, the Rockets can still offer about 95% of LeBron's theoretical max without giving up their core.
How realistic is it that the Heat can acquire Carmelo Anthony? Heat Salary $70,267,178 - Lebron opt out – $20,590,000 - Bosh opt out – $20,590,000 - Wade opt out - $20,164,000 - Cut Justin Hamilton non-guaranteed contract - $816,482 - Trade the #26 draft pick to avoid $925,760 cap hold - Add incomplete roster charge for 6 spots + $3,044,016 - Add new Lebron salary of $13,000,000 - Add new Wade salary of $13,000,000 - Add new Bosh salary of $13,000,000 Heat Adjusted Salary $50,150,712 That leaves $13,049,288 for Carmelo Anthony Heat Roster: PG Norris Cole SG Dwayne Wade SF Lebron Wade PF Carmelo Anthony C Chris Bosh Bench Udonis Haslem Chris Anderson They would not have the MLE to upgrade their roster in this scenario. They would have to renounce all free agents and would not have bird rights to anyone. They would have the Room Mid Level Exception, Bi-Annual Exception (if they didn’t use it last season) and the Minimum Player Contracts to fill out their roster. Are they all willing to take 13 million a season?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Yahoo Sources: As James opts-out of Heat, talks w/ Wade and Bosh will largely decide Miami future together. <a href="http://t.co/eis0f0pV0M">http://t.co/eis0f0pV0M</a></p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/481473840867184640">June 24, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Per source: Neither Bosh, Wade or Haslem, who share common representation, have informed the Heat of their plans. All have June 30 deadline.</p>— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) <a href="https://twitter.com/IraHeatBeat/statuses/481475037103652865">June 24, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
ESPN: LeBron wants to team up with Carmelo Yahoo: LeBron, if not Miami, wants to team up with Chris Paul and the Clippers
