The Miami Heat are looking to keep LeBron James and the Big 3 together and names like Luol Deng, Chandler Parsons, Trevor Ariza and Shawn Marion are potential options on the free agent market after the team brought in Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, as Pat Riley is looking to strengthen the bench and the offense for the King as he decides between returning to Miami, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Bulls or LA Lakers.
Deng likely will cost too much money, but Riley met with him already according to ESPN.com to show the Heat's initial interest in him as a target on the market. ESPN.com reports that Deng wasn't willing to take less money at the time, but that could change as the summer wears on. Chandler Parsons is a restricted free agent and he could be a target for the team depending on how things play out. Trevor Ariza could be the perfect pickup, as he has an offensive game and the defensive prowess to be a championship piece.
The Miami Heat made a draft trade for Shabazz Napier that LeBron James wanted the team to make and now he will be the top priority in free agency for Pat Riley and he also may look at names like Chandler Parsons, Lance Stephenson or Luol Deng as free agent targets and that comes after the team added Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts to the mix. Riley now is looking to bring back James into the fold and he is the main piece is that is holding everything together.
Most NBA people think James will stay in Miami, but until he signs on the dotted line no one knows what he will do. According to ESPN.com, the Big 3 all met together recently to discuss their future plans and right now James has opted out of his deal, while Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade are also on the free agent market and now Bosh is getting wooed by the Rockets, who have offered him a max contract to consider. Reports say Bosh will return to Miami is LeBron does, but now that the Rockets have made him an offer, things are starting to get real.
Carmelo Anthony could be a target for the Miami Heat if Chris Bosh leaves, but right now it looks like James will stay, even though the Cleveland Cavaliers are making a final push for him. The NY Knicks were informed that Carmelo Anthony will opt out of his contract worth $23.5 million to become a free agent this summer and this comes after Melo had until the June 23 deadline to inform New York about his intentions and now teams like the Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks are in the mix, with LA, NY and Chicago considered the finalists.
Some rumors have the Miami Heat going after Anthony, but that would take a major commitment from LeBron James and the Big 3 taking less money to make that happen. If Anthony leaves, names like Luol Deng and Lance Stephenson could be free agent options for the Knicks. Last season Anthony averaged 27 points and the Knicks went 37-45 on the year and missed the playoffs.