Of course they could have, but the Big 3 opting out is to protect the Big 3's future. Lebron opted out because he wanted flexibility to control his fate and probably to get a pay raise. Bosh opted out because he didn't want to get stuck in a Miami situation without Lebron and he probably wants a longer deal. Wade is probably going to end up getting more money out of this as well.
That's what Cat and myself were saying a few pages ago. The only point for LeBron to opt out is to put the onus on Riley to make some improvements. Of course the only point for Bosh/Wade to opt out is because they want to keep LeBron in Miami. Other than that, Riley could have made these moves without the Big 3 opting out. I still think it's far from a home run that the Big 3 stays in tact.
That isn't really true though. Opting out for Lebron makes sense even if he had zero intention of leaving. He's going to get a full max offer for longer than his current deal had remaining and for money. If for no other reason at all, Lebron was going to opt out to get paid more. Bosh is going to end up getting paid more as well, even if he stays in Miami.
Because aside from San Antonio, OKC (with a 100% healthy Ibaka) would have taken them out, and maybe even the Clippers. The Heat really need talent and depth. Wade is like a starting pitcher now with all that rest, Bosh isn't getting any younger, and LeBron can't shoulder last year's team again.
I think that with what they have going right now, they'll still get beat by whoever gets out of the West.
This... LeBron knows that the Heat have limited financial mobility. The Heat will do anything to resign James. They drafted Napier because of James. I am sure McRoberts and Granger were favorites of James as well. James, Bosh and Wade are going back to Miami because all three want to stay in Miami. Ray Allen will sign as well and a good chance Haslem is back as well. Anthony is going to re-sign with New York. That leaves Kevin Love. I am guessing the Wolves are not in a hurry to move him because nothing has happened. The other option is Flip Saunders thinks he will get a better offer after James and Melo decide. Regardless, I don't think the Rockets have a very good shot at getting him. Rondo is very available but Ainge is difficult to deal with. He is very careful in his trades and will probably over value Rondo. Also, Rondo looked terrible coming off of his injury and his personality is not a great fit for the Rockets. That leaves players with warts, such as: Deng, Stephenson and Pierce. Morey will do something because of the Chandler Parsons situation. I think we are getting to the point where Morey may literally go "all in" on Love or up his offers for Rondo.
If the Big 3 all get the max or if both Bosh and LeBron get the max and Wade still gets a nice contract, then I don't see how they have enough room to fill out a roster and also get some good free agents. They just won't have enough money to go around, it seems. And the whole reason the Big 3 opted out was because: A. LeBron (and Bosh to an extent) want max money. B. Because LeBron (and I'm assuming Bosh and Wade) want a better supporting cast of players around them. I don't see how the Heat can sign any good players if both LeBron and Bosh get the max while Wade still gets a nice contract. It just doesn't seem possible. Am I off base thinking it's not possible?
LeBron was going to get paid regardless. Whether it was this summer or next summer, that eventual next contract was going to be the max. You can't tell me he didn't sit on the bench in the closing minutes of the NBA Finals thinking "I need to have a better team to win. I need Riley to do something".
Of course he thought that. But even if they had won and he thought "Man! This team doesn't need any help!" He would still opt out.
Sounds eerily similar to when Byron Scott took the Cleveland head coaching job and believed Lebron would be back with the team.
I found footage of Maury and Bosh. LOL. Bonus T-Mac sighting in the middle of engagement failure. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/UtPkxzHKLpk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
But we can agree that Miami can be (and has been) beaten, no? They're not invincible as they were a couple of years back...few years back... They can run through the East every year but what's the point if you keep losing in the Finals? Lest we forget, San Antonio choked away that championship last year. If San Antonio had pulled that one out, that would have been 4 Finals trip with 1 win. And if leaving a legacy in NBA history is as important to LeBron as we think it is, he can't lose in the Finals any more if he wants to be considered better than Jordan.
Every star that loses in the Finals feels that way.... but at the end of the day, the Heat have been to four straight NBA Finals and have won two. That matters... and concerning James opting out, I don't think there was every any doubt he would opt out. James could get hurt tomorrow..... you take the money, even if you already have $500,000,000.
Just to be clear Stedd (and anyone else who cares what I think lol) I'm not saying the Big 3 back to Miami is a lock. There is still a chance that Lebron just decides to leave. There is a chance that Lebron stalls so long that Bosh just takes our offer. Either of those could happen.
