Miami’s Big Three all opted out of their contracts last weekend.
The Miami Heat are reportedly telling free agents that they will have as much as $12m in salary-cap space after their Big Three re-sign ahead of next season.
LeBron James is understood to be demanding a maximum contract starting at around $20.7m, which indicates that both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will need to take drastic pay cuts in order for the Heat to be in a position to add talent to the roster.
While that would potentially risk tension between the trio, it is reported that after holding discussions last week that both Wade and Bosh are willing to co-operate with the plan which would see them earn significantly less than the $20m that they were scheduled to make this upcoming season.
Back in 2010, the three Heat stars all agreed to take less than the maximum salary to help add free agents to the roster, however it appears as though this time round that James is unwilling to enter a similar agreement and will push ahead to secure his max deal.
Agent Henry Thomas, who represents both Wade and Bosh, denied reports that Bosh had planned to accept a five-year contract starting at $11m while Wade would sign a four-year deal starting at $12m, but if that were the situation facing the Heat front office then that would give them space to work within to add talented free agents.
According to speculation this week, both Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry and Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol are at the top of their list, with some sections of the media suggesting that Miami have already been in contact to register an interest, as reported by ESPN.
It is unlikely that reports of a move for New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony will come to fruition, but ultimately the priority is still to lock in the current Big Three at the franchise.
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