In 2010, the Miami Heat formed the ultimate superteam when they added LeBron James and Chris Bosh to a team with Dwyane Wade. The team went on to make four straight NBA Finals appearances and win back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

Everyone knows that James, Wade, Bosh (and Carmelo Anthony) discussed the possibility of working together way back in 2004 when they played together in the Athens Olympics. However, during his recent appearance on “The OGs Show,” Heat president Pat Riley admitted that the Heat also had their eye on the trio since they won the first championship in franchise history.

“2006, the year we won the title, was the year LeBron, Dwyane and Chris Bosh all signed extensions,” Riley said. “It’s no coincidence that they were all represented by CAA, so they all signed, and then we took the contracts, we looked at the contracts with the options and all that stuff, and we saw that every one of them would be free agents. in 2010.”

Pat instructed Andy to plan ahead

CAA is Creative Artists Agency, a Los Angeles-based company founded by Michael Ovitz in 1975. When Wade and Bosh were drafted in 2003, they signed with CAA’s Henry Thomas. Meanwhile, James became part of CAA when the company acquired the company of his then agent Leon Rose.

It is unclear what role CAA or its agents played in syncing the three players’ contracts, but what is certain is that as soon as Miami obtained this crucial information, Riley immediately called his trusted deputy, current Heat GM Andy Elisburg, asked to check on the three and make plans. as if they would sign them all as soon as their contracts expired.

“So I said, ‘Andy, okay, we’ve got this in three, four years. I said unless we trade for one of them, I think one day we might have the opportunity to have to sit at the table with LeBron, with Chris and Dwyane, or all three, and from that day on Andy went to work to ensure that we would have enough room to sign all three in 2010.” he added.

Gil talked about the value of UD

And so 2010 came, and the Heat executed their game plan to perfection. However, it was a challenge. Miami needed other players to make the numbers work. Former All-Star Gilbert Arenas talked about how Udonis Haslem played a key role in Riley’s master plan.

“Those two championships that LeBron got there, you have to give him credit for that because he’s the one who took the pay cut to make it happen.” Arena said. “People don’t realize he took the pay cut. Milwaukee offered him $33 million when LeBron stood up, and they were trying to make the big decision… He turned it down and said, ‘Sign him. Whatever’s left, I ‘I will sign.'”

Indeed, Haslem turned down more significant offers in 2010 to accept a $20 million deal from the Heat. But like UD said, the Big 3 also took pay cuts so the team would have money to sign him, so it was a team effort. And yes, it helped that Haslem was also represented by CAA, and the same agent as D-Wade.