This time last year, LeBron James made headlines by saying he only had “three very good friends” in the NBA – none of whom were Cleveland Cavaliers. If his long-shot dream eventually comes true, though, it’s fair to say that might no longer prove the case.
In a sprawling story by Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck detailing the unique bond between he and Carmelo Anthony, James says he’d take a pay cut to team with Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul.
“I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together,” James said. “At least one, maybe one or two seasons—me, Melo, D-Wade, CP—we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that.”
Maybe at the end of their careers, James said. Maybe sooner. One more ring chase, this time with everyone on board.
“It would be pretty cool,” James said. “I’ve definitely had thoughts about it.”
Before bounding away, he smiles and closes with a coy chirp: “We’ll see.”
James and Wade, of course, led the Miami Heat to two titles and four consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2010-11 to 2013-14 with the help of Chris Bosh. However, the four-time MVP told Beck that he initially planned a different Big Three than the one that materialized in South Beach.
As members of the storied 2003 draft class began extension talks with incumbent clubs, James called Wade and Anthony to inform them he would sign a three-year deal in Cleveland. Why? So they, too, would have the opportunity to become free agents in the summer of 2010.
“And, uh, Melo,” James said, smiling and chuckling softly, “Melo took the five-year [extension].”
Anthony, who possesses a no-trade clause in his contract, has grown disenchanted with the New York Knicks’ rebuilding process this season. There have been multiple rumors of Cleveland possessing interest in the high-scoring forward since James returned to his native Northeast Ohio.
Wade will be a free agent this summer, and the Heat may not have the cap space to re-sign ascendant big man Hassan Whiteside. Paul’s situation may not be as cemented as it seems on the surface, either. Doc Rivers told ESPN’s Zach Lowe in September his Los Angeles Clippers “were right on the borderline” of making a change to their core.
The Cavaliers’ relative on-court struggles and palpable sense of overall discomfort has led some to believe that the possibility of James playing elsewhere still exists, too.
None of the above is to say James and his “very good friends” will try to join forces this summer. Anthony’s no-trade clause makes that virtually impossible, as does the specter of another big payday for each superstar before his prime officially ends.
James’ hope won’t become a reality anytime soon.
But the sense of familial love and obligation between he, Anthony, Wade, and Paul needs no further explanation. It’s one of the main reasons why James spurned Cleveland for Miami in the first place, and at least partially accounts for the public’s incessant infatuation with his happiness playing alongside Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and more.
Also, who could forget this?
It will take time and sacrifice for James, Anthony, Wade, and Paul to play on the same team. Considering that LeBron and Wade already formed a similar super-team in Miami, though, maybe this newest nugget deserves more than a passing day of attention on basketball twitter.
Keep a carefully discerning eye on these guys as their careers progress, basically.
James, Anthony, Wade, and Paul only have so much more time left to fail, and by proxy only so much more time left to play together. Could teaming up win them a title? We doubt it. But basketball isn’t played on paper, and the harmony gleaned from pitch-perfect chemistry often leads to results that make a roster’s sum greater than the whole of its parts – a byproduct that each thirtysomething has come to fully understand throughout decade-plus NBA careers.
