NBA Free Agents 2014 : Pat Riley Expects LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh to Stay With Miami Heat
- Paul John Rivera
- Apr 04, 2014 05:29 PM EDT
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The Miami Heat's "Big Three" of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh are probably making their final title run together in South Beach this season, although Heat president Pat Riley is expecting them to stay together and in Miami beyond this summer's free agency bonanza.
The three superstars could opt out of their respective contracts and become free agents this summer. But while most executives believe that at least one of the three superstars will sign elsewhere, Riley is confident that all three will stay in Miami.
Riley admitted in an ESPN interview Friday that he is concerned about the Big Three's impending free agency, but he reiterated that he can't see one of them leaving this summer, pointing out that returning to Miami is their best option if they want to continue contending for a title in the foreseeable future.
"I always have concern when players are in the situation they're in," Riley said. "But we feel we have the best organization in the league for those players to stay, and to also attract others to want to come here. With our three guys, we hope that this turns into a generational team."
Riley also pointed out that James and Bosh have been very happy in Miami since they decided to join forces with Wade in the summer of 2010. The three All-Stars took major pay cuts when they signed with the Heat to give the team the opportunity to surround them with key pieces.
They failed to win a title in their first year together, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA Finals, but they bounced back by winning two straight championships in the next two seasons, and are currently favored to win their third straight ring this season.
"They got exactly what they wanted," Riley said of James, Wade, and Bosh. "Look at where they were before and look at what's happened to them. They joined forces, they all sacrificed money, sacrificed roles. What they got out of it was back-to-back championships, and the opportunity this year to win another one."
Riley said that he will look to retool the Heat's roster in the offseason, but it is still unknown at this point whether or not he will be able to convince the three superstars to take less money again this summer, assuming they opt out of their respective contracts.
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