Lebron James, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
This is the trade that will end of all trades, the mother of all deals. The Superteam can happen in one transaction.
After the release of that Bleacher Report piece by Howard Beck that chronicled "the Brotherhood" which comprised of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul, speculation never stopped. It took a backseat to stuff like the playoffs, but the imaginations could not be curbed.
Sometime later in their career, all four superstars who are now leading their own respective teams would like to play together in what is called a "superteam." It's definitely in the realm of possibility in today's NBA as the
Now, Paul Centropani of SI's The Cauldron hatched a blockbuster deal that could bring all of them together in one fell swoop. He also attached the Trade Machine link that shows the trade was successful (salary cap wise).
In the proposed deal, The New York Knicks will receive Iman Shumpert and Justise Winslow and send Carmelo Anthony.
The Miami Heat will receive Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving and Mo Williams. They will send Dwyane Wade (presumably in sign and trade arrangement), Justise Winslow and Goran Dragic.
The LA Clippers will receive Kevin Love, Goran Dragic and JR Smith. They will send Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will receive Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade. In exchange, they send Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, Mo Williams and JR Smith.
For Cleveland, this is the superteam. Carmelo Anthony could act as the sidekick for LeBron and there probably won't be an issue since they've maintained a friendly rivalry since high school. Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade are both getting old and deteriorating but they can still be All-Stars. Taking away the burden of carrying a team could work wonders for both players.
The Miami Heat will have a new foundation in Blake Griffin and Kyrie Irving. Centopani mentions that Griffin is probably out of the Clippers anyway.
The New York Knicks will bring back Shumpert and grab Winslow, a player with upside who's about the same age as Kristaps Porzingis. The Knicks take a backseat as they develop since the Cavs will be the juggernaut of the East.
The Clippers still have a big three, albeit with a different look. Kevin Love will become a top option in offense again and he will play with a legit rim protector in DeAndre Jordan. Dragic will also be unleashed as the Clippers have been employing faster, smaller lineups. JR Smith takes the sixth man role if Jamal Crawford leaves.
This is too ambitious of a trade to execute but the timing could be right. Griffin, Paul, Anthony, Love and Irving have all been rumored to be traded if their teams don't win the title-and it's likely that it would happen.
Why wait until they're too old to make a difference? Assemble the superteam now.
