The Miami Heat are currently playing in their fourth straight NBA Finals and are looking make it three titles in a row. But this remarkable run hasn't deterred the organization from looking toward the future.
According to an ESPN.com report, the Heat have begun turning their attention to acquiring potential free agent Carmelo Anthony. The New York Knicks high-scoring forward can opt out of his current contract at the end of this month, and there are sure to be several suitors vying for his services.
While the Knicks can offer Anthony the most money, he has expressed interest in playing for a title contender - and the Knicks are nowhere near being in that category. Miami, however, clearly fits that bill. Landing Anthony, however, won't come without sacrifice.
The Heat will need their top three players - LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, all of whom can opt out of their contracts - to accept less pay in order to make room under the salary cap for Anthony.
Miami would also need key reserves Udonis Haslem and Chris Anderson, both of whom can opt out of their current deals, to take salary reductions.
Anthony and James are good friends, leading to rumors that have the two joining forces as members of the Los Angeles Lakers. Those rumors, however, appear far-fetched at this time.
There is also the possibility of Anthony remaining in New York and James joining him there in 2015, when several high-priced contracts will fall off the Knicks book.
Knicks president Phil Jackson is working to convince Anthony to put free agency on hold and opt in to his current deal that will pay him $21 million next season. If Anthony agrees, Jackson vows to go after high-quality free agents in 2015, including James.
A James-Anthony led team in New York will be a force in the NBA and will serve to increase Anthony's endorsement value off the court. James pocketed $53 million in endorsements during the past 12 months, according to Forbes. Anthony, by comparison pulled in $8 million.
Wade, James teammate in Miami, made $11 million in endorsements. It's not hard to imagine that each player's endorsement revenue would increase wearing a Knicks uniform.
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