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On July 9, 2010, the Miami Heat famously introduced their Big 3 in an elaborate event held at the American Airlines Arena. In that press conference, the Heat presented LeBron James and Chris Bosh, along with resident star Dwyane Wade, to meet the press.
While most of us remember that presser for LeBron's infamous "Not one, not two, not three" statement, which did not age well, Heat president Pat Riley revealed on the "Le Batard Show" that right before the fanfare, he was still finalizing the contracts of Bron and Bosh with their agents backstage.
"A lot of people don't understand, when we signed the Big 3 and LeBron, Chris and Dwyane were all in my office with their agents and their wives were in the family room waiting for the big announcement and the stage show where they were going to rise and smoke and everything, we're negotiating the final details of their contract,"said Riley.
Riley gave up six draft picks to assemble the Big 3
Most of us think that James and Bosh just landed on Riley's lap after they wanted to play with Wade because both stars were unrestricted free agents that summer. But no, both Bron and CB ended up in Miami after sign-and-trade deals.
According to Riley, the contracts for the allowed four-year deals were ready, but current Knicks president Leon Rose, who was LeBron's agent back then, demanded a six-year deal, with a player option after Year 4 and two more extra years for security, in case Bron or Bosh got injured.
"And he said, 'Pat, my guy's worth it.' I said, 'But you and tell the players, six draft picks I had to give up, six! Four first-round picks, a couple of swaps. But Andy and I went to work and it was like extortion at that time because that's what they wanted and I get it," he added.
The Heat could've assembled a better team if not for Rose
And so Riley and the Heat gave up two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a pick swap to the Cleveland Cavaliers for LeBron. He also surrendered two first-round picks to the Toronto Raptors for Bosh. According to the Godfather, they already had plans to use those picks to be packaged with players so they could add solid pieces around the Big 3. But Rose's last-minute request not only left them scrambling but also left them little wiggle room.
"And I said to Leon, I said to Henry Thomas and I said to the players, Do not come through that door when we're losing and you think you have enough because these six picks in the next year or two would have gotten me three or four veterans to come in Shane and Ray and Anderson and Rashard Lewis," he added.
Riley went on to say that after the sign-and-trade deals, they were left with minimum contracts and roster spots to fill. In the end, he claims depth is what cost them the 2011 NBA Finals against Dallas, although he also admitted they could not stop Dirk when it mattered most.
But imagine if LeBron and Bosh went to Miami for free and Riley had those picks to use in trades. As LeBatard said, Riley had a super team in 2010, but he could have had a more super team if not for Rose.
Related: Leon Rose reveals the complex process that brought Jose Alvarado to the New York Knicks
