Even before the final buzzer had sounded and the Spurs had been crowned NBA Champions, the Heat rumors started to swirl. The Big Three were history, coach Erik Spoelstra was out the door, and the Heat were courting every free agent from Carmelo Anthony to Chris Smith.
With all the information flying around, we're here to help you separate fact from fiction, one rumor at a time.
LeBron's Future
LeBron has the option to opt out of his contract this summer...and that alone is enough to get the vultures circling. At least half a dozen teams would LOVE to make a run at James, and some have already started planning their move...but before any of that can happen, he has to decide if he wants to opt out or not.
We can't read LeBron's mind, and for the time being, no one knows what his future holds. If LeBron himself hasn't decided, you can bet that Joe McSportsBlog and his "inside info on LeBron's decision" is 100% speculation.
That said, all the signs point to LeBron opting in. He'll take a vacation and clear his head before he makes any kind of decision, but we would be absolutely shocked if he decides to bail...and there's a very good reason why.
LeBron cares about his image and his public perception more than he lets on. After 'The Decision' back in 2010, James was absolutely shocked and hurt by the negative backlash - he thought he'd done something good (put on a TV special to benefit for the Boys & Girls club), but that part of the story was lost in the vicious anti-LeBron narrative.
LeBron has spent four years now carefully trying to rebuild that image, and leaving for greener pastures after another tough loss would immediately undo all that hard work. James deciding to opt out and play somewhere else is extremely unlikely, barring some unprecedented and unforeseen turn of events.
Carmelo Anthony
Melo is opting out of his contract this summer - it's an open secret, at this point. Phil Jackson's words carry a lot of weight, but Carmelo won't be back in New York unless they can somehow clone a 24-year-old Patrick Ewing.
The minute Melo opts out, he instantly becomes the most coveted free agent of the summer. Miami, which badly needs another scorer to back up LeBron, is weighing up possible ways they can go after Anthony.
The only way to make the numbers work would be to get Wade, James and Bosh to restructure their current deals...and that discussion won't take place until after LeBron officially opts in. Since Anthony can opt out and become a free agent next week, there's a very real possibility that he'll be off the market before Miami has a chance to act.
The Bulls are currently front-runners to sign Melo, but they'll face stiff competition from Houston and at least half a dozen other teams. Because of Miami's delicate salary situation and the timing of their summer plans, Anthony is not a realistic target.
Kyle Lowry
A much, much more realistic option? That would be Raptors PG Kyle Lowry. Not only is Lowry more affordable, he plays a position where the Heat desperately need an upgrade. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole were absolutely brutal during Miami's playoff run, and adding Lowry would strengthen the Heat in an area where they badly need help.
There's mutual interest between Lowry and the Heat, and while the Big 3 would still need to take pay cuts to make it possible, the numbers would be less extreme than if the team had to make room for Carmelo's max contract. With Lowry already interested in Miami, there's less of a concern about another team swooping in before the Heat can make their free agency plans. This is far from a done deal, given the number of moving pieces in play, but it's much more realistic than going after Melo.
Dwyane Wade's Future
It's time to face the music - Dwyane Wade is declining rapidly. He's still an elite shooting guard when healthy and well-rested...but he's healthy and well-rested less and less of the time. The Heat can no longer count on Wade to play starter's minutes every night, and the pursuit of a Kyle Lowry-type player is vital this summer as Miami transitions Wade into a less-prominent role.
Next season, expect the Heat to heavily ration Wade's playing time - they already started holding him back more and more this past season, but as we saw in the Finals, he had nothing left in the tank when it really mattered. To make sure Wade can play important minutes in the playoffs, the Heat will hold him out even more next year, and don't be surprised if you start seeing him coming off the bench or playing with the second unit during regular-season games.
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