2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: LeBron James Kills Big Four In Miami? No More Pay Cuts For The King As All It Got Him Was Second Place!

The  2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions has shifted focus from New York to Minnesota and now Miami. The past two weeks made all the difference.

From a cocky stance of possibly building a dynasty, the Miami Heat is now thinking about how they'll survive. With most of their players possibly becoming free agents, the possibility of the Big Three edition of the Miami Heat may be over.

LeBron James was heavily mocked because of his pompous declaration during the 2010 introduction that they will win "not one, not two, not three..." championships. It seemed unfair that he has done everything humanly possible-including taking a pay cut to achieve that goal.

James is the most underpaid player in the NBA simply because he is the best player. Kobe Bryant, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Dwight Howard and even Pau Gasol are all paid higher than the Big Three.

Now, there is a proposal for the Big Three, including James, to trim down their paycheck even further. Is LBJ amenable to that? From the NY Daily News: "As team insiders have maintained for months, James isn't interested in reducing his salary from $20.6 next season and $22.1 million in 2015-16 just so that team owner Micky Arison can avoid paying luxury taxes. As they say, been there, done that and all it got James was second place.

The Big Three would possibly do what Duncan has done for years so that Pat Riley has the means to bring in a young, athletic wing, along with other new parts. There will be talk about taking pay cuts to fit Carmelo Anthony in, but that is seen as far-fetched."

Did LeBron James kill the "Big Four"proposal? Not really. But he will not take any more pay cuts for owner Mickey Arison's sake. Last year, Pat Riley declared that they would bring the entire champion team back only to amnesty Mike Miller to stay off the tax line. Now, LeBron will only take a pay cut if it means taking a useful talent.

CBS Sports summarized LBJ's sentiments:

"It comes down to whether the Heat (management) have a plan that can convince him the team can improve. They didn't just lose to the Spurs, they were demolished. All of this factors into his decision. They have to convince him not only to stay, but to stay and take less money because the personnel they plan on acquiring will be worth it... then they have to go out and get those guys."

If the Heat won't pull it off, someone else will. They don't have a title to lose anymore, so they have to take the hunter's role again.