Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA rumors lit up with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony talking about playing together and forming a superteam.
LeBron James mentioned that he really hopes that he and his close friends in the league could all play together. He referred to Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. Carmelo Anthony quickly caught on and his comments were picked up by the NY Post.
"We still got years in this league,'' Anthony said. "Everybody dreams sometimes.
"Everybody has fantasies. We'd all have to take pay cuts. I'd take one. I think at that time we'd want to go someplace warm. Later - [close to] retirement.''
His mention of "someplace warm" practically eliminates New York and Cleveland. The two players are having very different yet equally excruciating seasons. Melo will have his third straight losing season while James still carries the heavy burden of winning a title in allegedly cursed Cleveland.
This is all just a dream for these players but the way James and Wade brokered the Miami Heat big three, the possibility should not be overlooked. While Melo mentioned "close to retirement" no one is really sure when retirement will be. It is probably hinted that he would rather finish his contract with the Knicks (if indeed it's not in New York) but if there's the offhand chance that it could be done sooner, it's likely Carmelo would waive his no-trade clause.
SB Nation pointed to the LA Lakers as the best venue for assembling superstars and they have the cap space and trade assets to pull it off.
The Lakers have the weather and the tradition going for them, and they could also offer a choice for a coach. They have the most cap space if they renounce all their cap holds, and they can sign LeBron James outright, for the maximum. It is also suggested that they trade Julius Randle and possibly Jordan Clarkson for Carmelo Anthony-salaries don't have to match because the Lakers are under the cap.
If they pull this off, they could use the remainder to sign Dwyane Wade and then trade for Chris Paul. Perhaps the main asset for that is D'Angelo Russell and Doc Rivers could ask for the player the Lakers get in this year's trade (assuming they land top three and keep the pick).
The pipe dream has been assembled, and the Lakers will need to "get creative." They can fill up the roster with title chasers on below market level salaries (which is more challenging considering the insane offers other teams will offer because of the risen salary cap.
This is all speculation, but we must remember that the Miami Heat big three was a pipe dream that started in the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
