LeBron Would Take Pay Cut To Team Up With Wade, Melo, and CP3

An article by Howard Beck of Bleacher Report detailed the friendship between LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Paul.

One of the tidbits of the article came near the end, when LeBron said,

“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.“

Am I the only one whose eyes just about popped out of his head when reading that?

That is a lot to unravel.

Maybe LeBron is talking about way down the road. Not next season or even the year after. But picture for a minute, a lineup of CP3, Wade, LeBron, Melo and some low-salary free-agents.

It would be pretty awesome. Let’s imagine how this could come to fruition.

The logistics of it happening would be difficult.

Melo is with the Knicks for three more seasons and has a no-trade clause in his contract. But that could be waived. If Melo would have been open to waiving his no trade clause in February, there was at least a dim possibility of him coming to Cleveland in a deal involving Kevin Love.

Maybe Melo decides to waive his no trade clause and a similar deal is worked out in the summer.

There have been rumblings about a potential trade in the summer involving Kyrie Irving for CP3.

There’s no verified reports, but it’s been somewhat of a piece of NBA gossip for the past couple months. If the Cavs don’t get it done in the Finals, trade Kyrie and possibly more assets to the Clippers for Paul.

Where does D-Wade come in?

Wade is a free-agent after this season. Maybe LeBron tells his old buddy, “Hey. I did it for you in 2010. You owe me. Come to Cleveland.”

These are all hypothetical scenarios. But it’s at least possible.

The salary cap is going up this summer, which means the Cavs could fit the players on the roster if LeBron and Wade take significant pay cuts compared to what their value around the league will be.

Granted, the current Cavs are 50-20. First place in the Eastern Conference. The sky is not falling. But my personal feeling is that if the Cavs don’t win the Finals in June, at least one of the members of the Big Three (most likely Love, possibly Irving) will be traded.

Something else to watch for is how this postseason plays out in general. If there are obvious chemistry issues and the team isn’t clicking, there will certainly be members of the media who say “LeBron may not stay in Cleveland after this Summer.”

What I will be looking for is how “respectable” of a playoff run the Cavs make.

If they are swept in the Finals or lose 4 games to 1, I would say everything is on the table. LeBron leaving. Trading Kyrie. Trading Love. It’s all possible.

If the Cavs at least put up a fight in the Finals, I don’t see LeBron bailing again.

But the thought has to enter his mind at least, “How many titles can I win with this group. Is Cleveland the best chance for me to get as many rings as possible, or are other locations any more promising?”

You might think there’s zero percent chance he leaves. There were plenty of people who thought that the first time. And although leaving a second time would tarnish his legacy even more, time is running out for the King to be in the prime of his career and get multiple titles.

The dream team scenario of LeBron, Wade, Melo, and CP3 is something you picture on a fantasy basketball roster, or NBA 2K with the settings switched to “Forced Trades: On.”

But something else to consider is what if that team came together somewhere other than Cleveland?

Why not put the same team together in sunny South Beach?

Why not revitalize the Lakers with the absence of Kobe, and usher in a new era of Showtime?

Or take the show to Madison Square Garden and join Melo via free-agency?

Maybe you think this is ridiculous and it will never happen. But these guys are close. LeBron is the godfather of one of Chris Paul’s sons. Wade was the best man at LeBron’s wedding. Melo and LeBron have been friends since high school.

This is all speculation, but the fact that LeBron even said he would be willing to take a pay cut shows how much he really hopes that some day they can join forces and dominate the NBA.

If they were going to do that, it would have to be sooner rather than later, since they’re all past the age of 30.

The original article from Beck also mentions that LeBron and Wade sort of hinted to Melo that they wanted him to join them in Miami, but he decided to stay with the Knicks.

Melo recently made some comments indicating that he regrets not taking the opportunity, saying “Maybe my loyalty has come back to bite me.”

Life doesn’t always give second chances to make a dream come true, but for these four players, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

For the sake of Cavs fans, let’s hope if it ever did happen, they would be wearing Wine and Gold.

But in the mean time, let’s see if the Cavs’ Big Three of LBJ, Irving, and Love is enough to remove all doubt that LeBron stays in Cleveland the rest of his career.