Miami Heat: Building A Big 4 Is A Bad Idea

In a summer of rumor and rampant speculation, this much is clear about the Miami Heat. They want to change to remain title contenders, superstar LeBron James has opted out of his contract and Connecticut’s Shabazz Napier was acquired by Miami in a draft-day trade.

And that’s it.

LeBron’s choice (and that’s a key word here) to become a free agent has sparked various ideas; of him joining Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago or returning to Cleveland. More likely, he – along with Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and, reportedly, Udonis Haslem – will all exercise the player options in their respective contracts to re-sign with Miami for smaller yearly deals that would provide Heat president Pat Riley the salary cap space he needs to retool, not rebuild, the team.

One of the more sexy storylines to come about involves Miami’s “Big 3” opting out to make way for fellow free agent superstar Carmelo Anthony, a new “Big 4” taking their talents to South Beach. After four largely-successful seasons for James, Wade and Bosh, I believe this new combination would be a mistake.

Some argue that building this super team wouldn’t leave Miami much cap space to build a deep roster outside of Anthony and his fellow All-Stars. Others feel this could signal the end of basketball, an unfair advantage to the Heat that would make the regular season a joke and would force NBA owners into another lockout.

Both of these are good arguments, both are likely untrue but neither is the reason for my contention.

As others have theorized, bringing Anthony aboard would limit Miami’s options to add pieces to the team. But you can bet veterans that are chasing a ring would be more than willing to sacrifice a bigger contract for a chance to win a title; this model has worked for Riley and would be viable even (or perhaps especially) with Anthony in the fold.

And how much would be needed, really, to help this loaded team make a run at the title?

To the second point, some have suggested that the original pairing of the Big 3 might have led to an organized lockout in 2011. Speculation as to what might happen when the NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement ends in in 2017 is simply that: speculation.

A lockout is a possibility, even if Anthony doesn’t join Miami.

Rather, I think that if the Heat put together this theoretical combination it would erase the overwhelmingly positive – and unpopular – things that are true about James, Wade and Bosh uniting in 2010. One can already look to the reduced contracts that several key role players took to join Miami over the last four seasons.

Ray Allen, Mike Miller, Chris Andersen all sacrificed millions at a point when fan bases have decried NBA athletes for being selfish and money-grubbing. Haslem has already done so twice, in 2006 and again in 2010.

Opting out this summer for less money, even if his skills are declining, would be the third time that he’s given the Heat a “hometown discount.” But the sacrifices of James, Bosh and Wade have been truly remarkable; any other reduced contracts would be historically significant.

Much has been made of San Antonio’s own “Big 3” (Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) taking less money. Billboards have mocked James’ recent announcement, further feeding a narrative that conveniently places the Spurs as heroic martyrs.

But neither Duncan, Parker or Ginobili are at their peak, something that can’t be said of either Bosh or, especially, James. The latter’s worth has been estimated to be in excess of $65 million – annually. At no point in NBA history has an elite-level athlete given up so much money to re-sign with a team.

From Chamberlain to Jordan to Bryant (who is in the twilight of his Hall-of-Famer career), league MVPs simply never make this choice. In fact, James’ contracts have never even placed in the top five throughout his career, even when he’s arguably been the league’s best player for nearly a decade.

If Anthony were to join Miami and if the Heat would bring a title, many would perceive that championship to be tainted and undeserved. But again, one only needs to look to the Spurs to see how this isn’t the case.

While San Antonio’s Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are certain Hall of Famers, they weren’t even the best players on their team during their recent title run. That honor went to Kawhi Leonard, the NBA Finals MVP.

Couldn’t it be said that this combination of players, including the superstar-in-the-making Leonard, is a version of a “Big 4?” And yet, the story is that the Spurs won through better coaching, chemistry and depth.

It ignores the possibility – maybe even the fact – that this is a collection of stars that can beat any opponent. This assessment is made often about the Heat, yet is dismissed for the Spurs.

Anthony’s addition would only further fuel the fire of this undeserved narrative.

It’s a shame that a potential collection of talent, possibly historically great, would be dismissed by fans. Any wins by this team would be lessened in the hearts and minds of many, an ideological asterisk that would always reduce the very real things they could achieve.

Anthony will probably re-sign in New York, remaining a complementary star that has placed more worth in his contract than in a title, and it’s probably for the best. When looking at what Miami and their current players have already done – made history along with multiple sacrifices – he might not be a good fit anyway.