Creating LeBron James' "Super Team"

It’s no surprise that when LeBron James was asked who his favorite teammates are in the NBA, he named three players on the USA Olympic team.

Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul were the three lucky members of LeBron James’ “Super Team” that he’d love to play with before his career ends, even if it means taking a pay cut.

Well, the "Big Three” has become one of the trendiest crazes in basketball since Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman formed the greatest team in sports, so why not begin the era of the “Big Four” with a bang.

First, we need to find a team with enough money to sign these players, but enough attention to attract them. Fortunately, the Los Angeles Lakers can have a maximum of $62,613,020.00 in salary cap space this offseason, which leads the NBA, and is also one of the most desirable teams to play for in the NBA now that Kobe Bryant has retired. If we wanted to make this easy, we could cut the entire Philadelphia 76ers team and start from scratch, but the Lakers will do for now.

Second, the Lakers need to sign these players available in Free Agency this summer. Lucky enough, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are both free agents after the 2015-2016 NBA season.

When it comes to LeBron James, taking a “pay cut” most likely isn’t as simple as it sounds. His current contract is worth $22,970,500 over a single season and if it weren't for this Super Team, as we’ll call them, he’d be signing a humongous deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He may take a small reduction in pay, but that will take some convincing before he signs anything. Unfortunately, he needs to be the last player we sign.

Dwyane Wade won’t be as difficult when it comes to money, but his loyalty to Miami is hard to break. However, he may not be looking to take another pay cut for a team who is building around other players. This could work in our favor, as the Lakers Super Team will definitely be an interesting commodity for those invited. Because of this, Wade signs with the Lakers. We’ll put his deal at 2 years/ $22 million, because each player will need to take a pay cut, and Wade will be willing to be a part of this team with less money.

Now, the Lakers have to either sign players like Jordan Clarkson and Roy Hibbert to return to the team or sign free agents. Since the Lakers will have Julius Randle, Brandon Bass, and Larry Nance Jr. returning to the post next season, Jordan Clarkson looks to be the player the Lakers will want to resign.

He most likely won’t be difficult to lure in once he sees an increase in salary and the numbers of stars the Lakers are planning to bring in. Clarkson signs for 4 years / $8 million, but under the Bird Right which allows the Lakers to sign him without affecting the Salary Cap.

Up next, is a player who said he’d love a spot on this Super Team. J.R. Smith will be a player to come off the bench and provide some star power when he’s playing well. Plus, his contract can be next to nothing because most other teams won’t be willing to pay for him. He signs for 2 years / $4 million.

Now, the Lakers will need one more free agent to round out the team before reaching out to LeBron. This player needs to be worth money without signing for much money. The best option, Harrison Barnes. It’s hard to imagine that anyone would want out of Golden State, but for enough money, it’ll be hard to stay. His current contract is worth $3,873,398 during the 2015-2016 season. Golden State will definitely be making an offer higher than that this time around, which means that the Lakers will have to make a better one. Barnes signs for 2 years / $10 million.

Next, LeBron James needs to be signed. The total Salary Cap remaining after signing Wade, Clarkson, Smith, and Barnes is $26,613,020. This isn’t enough to offer LeBron over the course of multiple years, so we’ll have to hand him most of it for one season. Once he sees the plan and the progress the Lakers have made, he’ll eventually sign to a 1 year / $13,600,000 contract.

With Free Agency ending, the Lakers team now looks like this:

• LeBron James (Forward/Guard)
• Dwayne Wade (Guard)
• Jordan Clarkson (Guard)
• J.R. Smith (Guard/Forward)
• Harrison Barnes (Forward/Guard)
• Lou Williams (Guard)
• Nick Young (Forward/Guard)
• D’Angelo Russell (Guard)
• Julius Randle (Forward/Center)
• Brandon Bass (Center/Forward)
• Larry Nance Jr. (Forward)
• Anthony Brown (Forward)

Of course, this isn’t the Super Team we are trying to build. Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul aren’t available free agents in 2016 so trading for them will need to be the route of completing this team.

This is going to be difficult because Carmelo’s contract is worth $78,731,280 over the next three seasons. As everyone witnessed this past season though, the New York Knicks aren’t really holding on too tightly to Carmelo, which could work in the Lakers favor.

If Carmelo is willing to jump on board and take a pay cut, which for the sake of this article he is, then the trade may be able to take place. The Knicks are looking to rebuild, and the Lakers will have a top draft pick in 2016. This trade includes Harrison Barnes, D’Angelo Russell, and the Lakers 1st Round draft pick in return for Carmelo Anthony.

With the money, the Lakers clear up $15,562,360 in cap space. This allows them to sign Carmelo to a 2 year / $26 million contract after they reconstruct his deal.

With the remaining $2,575,380 remaining in Salary Cap, the Lakers will sign Tarik Black to a 2 year / $1.2 million contract and Marcelo Huertas to a 2 year / $1.2 million contract.

The Lakers team now looks like this:

• LeBron James (Forward/Guard)
• Dwyane Wade (Guard)
• Carmelo Anthony (Forward)
• J.R. Smith (Guard/Forward)
• Jordan Clarkson (Guard)
• Lou Williams (Guard)
• Nick Young (Forward/Guard)
• Julius Randle (Forward/Center)
• Brandon Bass (Center/Forward)
• Larry Nance Jr. (Forward)
• Anthony Brown (Forward)
• Tarik Black (Center)
• Marcelo Huertas (Guard)

There isn’t a possibility of trading for Chris Paul in 2016-2017 because of the lack of money remaining the Lakers’ Salary Cap. So unfortunately for Chris Paul, he’ll have to sit out of the first season of this Super Team.

This works out though because the Lakers will only have to resign LeBron James and Brandon Bass after the 2016-2017 season. Chris Paul has the option to become a free agent in 2017, which allows him to join this Super Team only one season later. With $50,277,549 in salary cap space in 2017, the Lakers will have an easy time bringing back LeBron and Bass while also signing Paul.

LeBron James will sign another 1 year contract worth $16 million. Chris Paul joins the team with a 2 year / $26 million contract. And finally, Brandon Bass resigns with a 1 year / $3 million contract.

That means for one season, the Lakers team will have completed LeBron Jame’s “Super Team” and would look like this:

• LeBron James (Forward/Guard)
• Dwyane Wade (Guard)
• Chris Paul (Guard)
• Carmelo Anthony (Forward)
• J.R. Smith (Guard/Forward)
• Jordan Clarkson (Guard)
• Brandon Bass (Center/Forward)
• Larry Nance Jr. (Forward)
• Lou Williams (Guard)
• Marcelo Huertas (Guard)
• Tarik Black (Center)
• Nick Young (Forward/Guard)
• Julius Randle (Forward/Center)

It’s hard to tell how well this team would stay together after one season of a pay cut, but for the single season, they’d be hard to argue against as the most talented team in NBA history.

So there you go LeBron. Here’s how you’ll get your “Super Team.”