10 Sports 'Superteams' That Could Happen

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James told Bleacher Report's Howard Beck he would like to play with NBA pals Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony at some point before his career is over. He didn't say the word "superteam," but come on. That's what that would be.

And, though wildly unlikely, it could actually happen, according to some savvy investigation from SB Nation's Yaron Weitzman and Mike Prada. But more on that in a bit.

In the meantime, what other sports "superteams" (re: containing more than one superstar) are possible, even if highly improbable? Lionel Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic teaming up with Jose Mourinho at Manchester United? Bryce Harper joining the New York Yankees in 2019 because, of course?

Each of the following 10 scenarios have at least been rumored—and not simply dreampt up in this writer's head. Read on to find out why these potential superteams could technically happen but also why they ultimately won't.

It's fun to dream isn't it? Enjoy.

Minnesota Timberwolves with Wiggins, Towns, Garnett and Butler

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Scenario: Chicago Bulls send Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the No. 5 pick, Zach LaVine, Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic, as proposed by ESPN Insider Chad Ford.

How it could happen

• Tom Thibodeau, former Bulls head coach, is in his first year with the Timberwolves. Butler played for Thibs for his first four NBA seasons.
• If the Wolves could somehow get Butler without giving up Andrew Wiggins (more on that later), that team is stacked with young talent for days, including the last two Rookies of the Year in Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Plus, they'll have a grizzled Kevin Garnett to mentor everyone and bring the intensity.
• After a disappointing 2015-16 in which they did not make the playoffs, rumors of a Bulls rebuild abound, as Dieter Kurtenbach of Fox Sports noted.

Why it won't happen

• Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN reported the Bulls won't trade Butler without getting Wiggins.
• Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders cited "league sources in Italy" and reported (via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports), the Bulls would rather part with point guard Derrick Rose than Butler.
• And in fact, new rumors have surfaced about Rose heading to the New York Knicks, per Ian Begley of ESPN. 
• As Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin pointed out, "The five-year, $92 million max deal [Butler] signed last summer is cap-friendly (for keeping or eventually moving later) during the next two offseasons, and he's locked up through 2019."

Boston Red Sox with Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion

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Scenario: Boston Red Sox sign All-Star Toronto Blue Jays sluggers Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion in free agency—add to stacked roster already including pitcher David Price and longtime second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

How it could happen

• Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports Network reported (via Sam Galanis of NESN) Bautista and Encarnacion "envision" Boston as a possible landing spot in free agency. 
• Designated hitter David Oritz's pending retirement creates the need for a bat in the lineup. 
• Bautista said, "There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to play in the field for a long time," per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, which would free up Encarnacion to DH. 
• Some things that could affect this are still up in the air. For example, according to Baseball Prospectus, the Red Sox are committed to just about $149 million in salary in 2017, leaving room for them to make some moves under the luxury-tax threshold, but not much. The current threshold is $189 million, but it's TBD on what it will be in 2017, given the current CBA expires in December 2016. 

Why it won't happen

• Bautista has also indicated a preference to stay in Toronto, saying, "I'd be stupid to leave," in May, per Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated (h/t TSN.ca). 
• The Red Sox have several long-term contracts already on the books, including Hanley Ramirez, Dustin Pedroia and Price, to name a few. Ortiz's salary will come off, but they're not exactly drowning in wiggle room. 
• Maybe they're saving up for the great Bryce Harper sweepstakes of 2018?

Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Robert Lewandowski

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

Scenario: Real Madrid acquires Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window.

How it could happen 

• In late May, Der Spiegel (h/t ESPN FC) reported on ongoing rumors about Lewandowski and Real Madrid and revealed Lewandoski's agent had engaged in talks with the Spanish juggernaut.
• In mid-June, Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail reported the Polish forward is "growing increasingly unsettled" with Bayern, and Real Madrid would be his "dream move." 
• Though Bayern seems to have put the kibosh on the move (more on that later), stranger things have happened when star players grow dissatisfied. 

Why it won't happen

• Bayern all but eliminated this from the realm of possibility in early June. CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Sport Bild (via ESPN FC), "We have closed the door. No player will leave Bayern against our will."
• Ladyman also reported Bayern is working on an extension with Lewandowski.
• One of Real's current Big Three—in this hypothetical, forward Karim Benzema—would have to depart to make room for Lewandowski, according to Ladyman.
• And yet, rumors continue to circulate about Lewandowski's departure, possibly to Liverpool, per Niall McVeigh of the Guardian.

Toronto Maple Leafs with Auston Matthews and Steven Stamkos

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Scenario: Toronto Maple Leafs draft Auston Matthews and sign center Steven Stamkos in free agency.

How it could happen

• The Leafs have the No. 1 pick in the June 24 NHL draft, with which they will almost certainly take mega-hyped and "NHL-ready" center Matthews, which the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran discussed. 
• Stamkos is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and Toronto has been one of several rumored destinations, per Kevin Allen of USA Today.
• The trade of defenseman Dion Phaneuf in February made fans wonder if the Leafs were clearing up cap space to sign Stamkos, according to Kevin Allen and Kristen J Shilton of USA Today.
• Stamkos is from Toronto.

Why it won't happen

• According to former NHL center Patrick O'Sullivan, Matthews' impending arrival might make Stamkos sour on Toronto. O'Sullivan said on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, speaking on the Dean Blundell & Co. show (via Luke Fox of Sportsnet), "I don't see how it makes sense for Steven, more importantly, than anyone else. He is looking at going to a place that's going to have their new No. 1 guy for a decade, hopefully, if things go well."
• Pressure will be high in Toronto. Allen pointed out, "[Stamkos] will face more pressure and give up all aspects of privacy if he goes home to play for the Leafs."
• The Leafs are in full rebuilding mode after missing the playoffs for the third straight season in 2015-16. Stamkos could be on a better team sooner if he, say, hypothetically, stays with the Tampa Bay Lightning—something he has said he would like to do, per ESPN.

New York Yankees with Bryce Harper and Jose Fernandez

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Scenario: New York Yankees sign Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez when they both hit free agency after the 2018 MLB season.

How it could happen

• The Yankees are rumored favorites to land Harper, because, of course, they are. Sweeny Murti of CBS New York called it a "mortal lock" in November. (Definitely not a mortal lock, but you get the point.) 
• On Harper and Fernandez, John Harper of the New York Daily News pointed to the Yankees' current prospects and wrote, "Could the Yankees really afford some $40 million a year for each of them? Sure they could, especially if the likes of [Aaron] Judge, [Greg] Bird, [Luis] Severino and others develop as they hope."
• Harper also pointed out big-name Yankees Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran will all be off the books by the end of 2017, freeing up a lot of cash. 
• Harper and Fernandez will each be just 26 years old when all this goes down.

Why it won't happen

• Um, so this might actually happen.
• The Yankees could get outbid. Grant Brisbee of SB Nation listed the Los Angeles Dodgers as another contender, but he also pointed out, "Everyone's going to want Bryce Harper. As of right now, every team could still conceivably add $50 million in payroll to their 2019 roster, even if it will be easier for some teams than others."
• The Yankees have shown a newfound appreciation for frugality in recent years. (Although some—like Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports—have suggested that's just to free up funds for Harper.)

Golden State Warriors with Kevin Durant

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Scenario: Golden State Warriors sign free agent Kevin Durant in the 2016 offseason—keep core of All-Stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

How it could happen 

• Pretty easily. According to Danny Leroux of Sporting News, thanks to the impending NBA salary-cap increase, the Warriors could sign Durant to a max deal and keep Curry, Thompson and Green. 
• As Frank Isola of the New York Daily News wrote, "Durant's top priority is putting himself in position to win an NBA championship. Hence, his interest in the Warriors."

Why it won't happen

• Durant stands to make more money if he delays a big contract—say, by signing a one-year deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder—until the cash influx increases the salary cap to a projected $107 million in 2017-18, according to the USA Today (via Erik Horne of the Oklahoman).
• Sean Deveney of Sporting News reported the Warriors intend to match any free-agent offer for forward Harrison Barnes, which would send the cap space for Durant out the window.
• Warriors center Andrew Bogut openly wondered to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com, "Why?"
• Shows of support like this from the fans in Oklahoma City could tug at Durant's heartstrings. (Hey, they could!)

Green Bay Packers with J.J. Watt

George Bridges/Associated Press

Scenario: Houston Texans trade defensive end J.J. Watt to the Green Bay Packers for draft picks—add to an already solid team with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews.

How it could happen

• There were rumblings about this in 2015, so it's not completely out of left field. (Though even the perpetrator of said rumblings, Greg Garber of ESPN.com, admitted, "We know this is patently ridiculous.")
• Rodgers is 32 years old, meaning his window for another Super Bowl could start to close sooner rather than later.
• Watt is from Wisconsin—went to college there, has a log cabin there. Loves it.
• The Texans were 2-5 in November when Garber wrote about a possible trade. If things start out extremely poorly for the hopeful Texans in 2016, rumblings could stir up again.
• Such a trade would add Watt to an already stellar defense less than a year after the Denver Broncos rode their unit to a Super Bowl title.
• The Packers, like in 2015, should have some cap space to work with, and Garber even suggested Rodgers make a Tom Brady-esque "team friendly" deal to make a Watt move happen at some point. 

Why it won't happen

• The Texans signed Watt to a six-year, $100 million extension in 2014.
• The Texans just signed QB Brock Osweiler to a monster, four-year, $72 million deal, which doesn't appear to be the action of a team in "rebuilding mode."
• Garber wrote, "Packers general manager Ted Thompson, it's true, loves draft choices the way kids love sugar."

Chicago Cubs with Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller

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Scenario: New York Yankees trade stellar relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller to the Chicago Cubs for prospect(s) and infielder Javier Baez or outfielder Jorge Soler, as Phil Rogers of MLB.com suggested. The Cubs are already stacked with studs like pitcher Jake Arrieta and slugger Kris Bryant.

How it could happen 

• Rogers perpetuated rumors about this when he wrote, "Yes, Miller and Chapman in the same deal. I'd guarantee you that the Cubs will at least explore that, assuming the Yankees get to the point where they are willing to make them available." (You know what they say about assumptions.) 
• The Cubs are World Series favorites, but the bullpen could use some improvement. 
• George A. King III of the New York Post reported a Cubs scout, Jason Parks, was spotted checking out the Yankees' bullpen personnel recently.
• If the Yankees are way out of the American League East race at the August 1 trade deadline, they might be more likely to consider parting with their assets.    

Why it won't happen

• There's no evidence the Chapman-and-Miller-to-Cubs talks are anything more than rumor, as Tom Ley of Deadspin helpfully pointed out.  
• Why would the Yankees give up not one, but two, of baseball's best relievers? Even if they are out of contention, it seems unlikely from a pure common-sense standpoint and also from a "it's not the Yankee way" standpoint.
• Trading only Chapman—who will be a free agent at season's end—seems far more likely than shipping off two blue-chippers to a World Series contender.

Manchester United with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lionel Messi

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Scenario: Manchester United, and new manager Jose Mourinho, sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi during the summer transfer window and add free agent Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

How it could happen

• It actually looks like the Ibrahimovic move is already in motion. In mid-June, ESPN FC's Miguel Delaney reported the forward and Manchester United have "agreed to provisional terms."
• Barcelona has yet to lock down Messi to a long-term deal, though they are working on it, according to Albert Masnou of Sport (via Joe Short of the Express). Messi's current deal expires in 2018.
• Adam Crafton of the Daily Mail reported Manchester United has made two attempts to reach out to Messi about a possible move. 

Why it won't happen

• Michael Graham of Fox Sports listed Messi-to-Manchester United as a rumor, citing the Daily Mail, but he admitted it has "next to no chance" of actually happening.
• Barcelona's not keen to let Messi go. Bleacher Report's Rob Blanchette wrote in early June, "Barcelona have taken steps to secure Lionel Messi, attempting to tie the Argentina wizard to a new deal after rumors Manchester United will move for the icon."
• Manchester United won't be in the Champions League next season. Crafton wrote, "Any move is more likely to be with a view to United returning to the Champions League under Jose Mourinho in 2017-18."

Cleveland Cavaliers with James, Paul, Anthony and Wade

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Scenario: Los Angeles Clippers trade point guard Chris Paul to the Cleveland Cavaliers for point guard Kyrie Irving. Cavs trade forward Kevin Love to the New York Knicks for forward Carmelo Anthony. Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade signs with the Cavs as a free agent.

How it could happen

• According to ESPN's (extremely handy) NBA Trade Machine, the trades could actually happen. Anthony has a no-trade clause, something he would maybe/probably waive for the chance to play with his bros.
• Love's lackluster performance in the NBA Finals—just two points in Game 5—is only adding fuel to the offseason trade fire.
• If you believe the "LeBron runs the show in Cleveland" narrative, it's easy to see how he could demand whatever crazy move he wanted and actually get it.
• Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported on Love-for-Anthony trade rumors in February. The deadline came and went, of course, but it's not hard to imagine the Knicks choosing to rebuild around young talent like center/foward Kristaps Porzingis as opposed to salvaging things with Anthony.
• The Clippers' inability to get past the second round yet again has led some to talk of "blowing it up" and starting over, according to Fox Sports' Jovan Buha.

Why it won't happen

• In May, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said the team won't trade Paul, Griffin or center DeAndre Jordan.
• As Yaron Weitzman and Mike Prada of SB Nation pointed out, Wade would have to take a massive pay cut to sign with the Cavs. 
• What are the odds of the league actually allowing this to happen?
• It's just absurd.