Bosh to Miami? So says one guy

Just filed a quick news story to my desk about the Bosh-to-Miami deal that's being reported off an ESPN fellow's tweet.

No one I talked to at the Raptors can confirm or will deny it; the free agency period hasn't even begun and they are not about to run afoul of the NBA's head off.

Look for the news item shortly and then let me spend a few hours trying to make sense of it. I will say it runs counter to what I've heard as the Raptors opinion of Mike Beasley for months.

But, as we know, strange things can happen this time of year; things aren't done until they're done; and one move may just be something to set up another.

Stay tuned.

Comments

[chris]

Think i just puked in my mouth.

If this is the deal, then Pat Riley once again fleeced our man Bryan Colangelo.

Ouch.

[kazbid]

I hope BC gets players and not a trade exception worth over $15M; trade exceptions are useless except to be traded for expiring contracts..

[J]

Ray S:
"the Raptors will have 11+ million in cap space (45 mil on 56 mil [approx] cap). I know this is a little long and dense, but am I wrong?"
You forgot Amir.

Chris B:
"Couldn't the Raps have just traded Bosh's rights?"
This doesn't have anything to do with cap room, as suggested by a previous poster. In the NBA, once the trade deadline passes, a player who will or may become a FA in the summer may not be traded until July 1st, but since the player becomes a FA on July 1st, this just means they can do a S&T.

Dave:
"the trade exception an automatic inclusion since the salaries don't match or does Miami get to choose if they want to trade it or not?"
Trade exceptions are generated automatically any time a team sending out just ONE player takes back one or more players with less salary. It is not something a team like Miami can "hold onto" because it does not exist until the trade is completed.

[SA]

Nothing confirmed,of course, but Miami does make sense -- they can offer max-money and Bosh likely believes he's the East's Pau Gasol who -- with supporting cast to be named later -- will put Heat/Wade into The Finals next season. Because Wade couldn't/can't do it without a star big, Bosh still gets to claim that he's The Man. Why bother having a cup of coffee with the likes of San Antonio or Houston?

[Mr. Cook]

I believe, Doug, that the comment by Adrian will be his last if this deal goes through as he promised to never post here again if Bosh leaves the team this summer.

Anyway, I know you don't like individual player questions but since we're thinking about Miami--has anyone in the Raptors organization ever expressed interest in Haslem who is a FA this summer?

[The J]

It's interesting that this story isn't actually up anywhere at ESPN's website. What does this say about the truth behind it if it's from an ESPN contributer and ESPN isn't even reporting it?

I guess we're getting our Fireworks a day early.

[Peter]

If this deal is legit it really is nothing more then 9 mil trade exception and a pu pu platter.

Beasley is a good kid but he is emotionally "fragile" to put it mildly. How do you think he is going to react to moving from South Beach and D Wade to the Great White North and a team full of journeymen and projects? Not well, that's how.

If the Heat pull this off they might not be able to get James but I would wager large that they will be able to entice either Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay to sign. A core of Wade, Bosh, and either of those two with any other assembly of spare parts will win 50 plus, maybe more.

Good logical move for Bosh and Miami. For the Raps and Beasly, yeah, not so much.

But, hey, this is where we are, this is what it is.

[SY]

I think this is a very good trade: Raptors S&T Bosh + Banks to Miami for a 1st rounder + Beasley, Chalmers then use the trade exception to absorb the contract of Okafor + Collison from NOH. Please do this!!

I do not think our talent level dropped that much even though Okafor is no Bosh but we have a really good mix of young + veteran players and a future 1st round pick. Besides, the Raptors can still reassign Amir and use the mid-level exception to add more talent.

Line-up for 2010
Jarrett Jack
Andrea Bargnani
Emeka Okafor
Hedo Turkoglu
Demar DeRozan

Second Unit
Jose Calderon
Ed Davis
Sonny Weems
Macro Belinelli
Darren Collison
Michael Bealsey
Mario Chalmers

-SY

[shan2on]

where there is smoke, there is usually fire ...

lets speculate this trade be true, or 'even in the works', and lets also consider past opinions of raptor brass of michael beasley to be taken into consideration.

maybe a smart tactic on coangelo's part?

a clue sherlock ...
let's be honest, raptor brass aint a fan, and neither are most torontonians,(or are they still in denial of bosh resigning 1 more year?)

nevertheless, if this is a pre-move for a big move, and i do mean BIG, like the 5 spot big, or even a commanding 4 ?

Why not Al Jefferson ? or even Amar'e ?

But we need to keep this in perspective, we still got a few hours to go in this dog and pony show and who knows, bosh and wade might be signing in Golden State with Pierce and Dirk in Golden State.

on a different note: i'm prolly the biggest amir johnson fan right now. lets cut him a cheque, he wants to stay.

~ shan2on

[Jacques]

The Raptors are going to be ok. I think certain players were looking forward to Bosh leaving, just like the Jays pitchers looked forward to Halladay leaving. It opens up new doors for these guys to really show what they've got. Beasley will be a beast for us.

[kelsie]

Blogger's note: Man, you need to get another hobby horse to ride. Seriously. Get this through your head: CHRIS BOSH DOES NOT WANT TO PLAY IN TORONTO!!!!!
End of story. Thank you for your participation. Good night and good bye

While, I would agree with you Doug, Bosh does not want to play in To any longer, I think Colangelo has done a good job in assisting this sentiment and helping Bosh make an easy decision.

If we had some cap room and the players we currently have minus Turkolgu, we could be in this "perfect storm" and have an opportunity to get Bosh a top tier teammate. As it stands now we are on the outside looking in and will contemplate how to move forward with a team that will likely have 4 PF's (Beasley, Davis, Johnson, Evans) and a centre who most people say should be playing the 4.

Miami would have had money to make a move regardless but Colangelo helped them bigtime and made it an even more attractive destination (for our top free agent) by not following the O'Neal plan to it's conclusion.

[jc]

Ironically, the only thing to me that is lending some credibility to this story is the fact that you've printed it

[Mike S]

Recent quote from Vince Carter on getting moved this summer:
"This is my 12th year, and for 10 of them, I've heard that (trade rumors). If it happens, it happens. When it comes to October, I'll be ready to go, wherever that is,''
ummmmm, I don't even know what to say about that. Well, I do, but its not something I could post here. He knows he'd still be Toronto's #1 athlete if it weren't for his demands, right? Or is he completely delusional?

[Paul B]

Doug, you changed the story from (more or less), Toronto would neither confirm nor deny, to Toronto sources downplay it...

what, exactly does this mean? Stop writing about it or you'll get us in trouble?

Blogger's note: No, it doesn't.

[Rich]

Doug, if this is true, could one of the draft picks be the Raptor's own pick that was traded to Miami in the Marion deal? I'm thinking that based on the rosters a Raptor's pick is going to be much more valuable than a Heat pick....

[gdr]

Any chance this Miami rumour is just a ploy to try and gain more in a S&T from the Knicks or Bulls?

Blogger's note: No, there can be no "ploy" because Bosh will determine where he wants to go.

[Jeff Steele]

The Heat are going to have 3/5 of the USA Olympic starters eh.....hmmmm, I'm now scared of Miami, I don't think there has ever been 3 superstars any where near that magnitude together on an NBA team. Two 30/8/8 scorers and a 25/10 guy is enough to win 60 games a season and 5 championships minimum, though probably more since the Bulls got 6 and they weren't that good. You can surround them with D-League players and they will still destroy every team in their path.

I'd be happy with Beasley/Chalmers/Anthony+cash+picks at least we get something while the Cavs get squat. Hopefully we can package Hedo+a PG+Beasley for something and come out with a team that can at least compete to get into the playoffs.

[Lavi]

Doug,
CB just posted some link on his Twitter of a video of him that clears up... well, nothing. In his own words.

[Paul B]

Bosh just twitted about his excitement with the process etc... within that, was mention, more as an example than anything, about a visit with Raptors... Doug, do you know if anything is planned?

[Marvin]

Doug, describe your perfect Sunday?

Blogger's note: I don't know how it would all shape up but every computer in the world would be broken and the internet would be down

[Doug Stephens]

Pam Beesly is coming to the Raptors???

[Aditya]

been telling everyone that beasley can play ball... i don't know why people in the Raptors front office aren't big fans of the guy, but he can flat out ball... told you earlier to give him 1.5 years (remember that?)....we'll see what he does next season (whichever NBA team he's on).......

[Dan W]

I think Beasly is a pretty good player who is underrated. He has a great offensive game, he just went to a team that already had a star player. Had Chicago taken him and Miami Rose you would probab;y see a bit of a reverse in the situation. Rose was handed the ball and allowed to make mistakes. Beasly was a star talent forced to be a role player for a coach that held him accountable for his defense. Rose would proabaly not be an all star yet had he been sharing the ball with Wade too. If this does end up being true people should give him a chance to play. He has more talent than any of the players the Raps got from the vince trade. Chalmers is a dedent back up and Anthony is a pretty tough end of the bench guy.

[Rob]

Doug, why would you comment on this story if you are still not sure? Obviously you didn't break the story so it makes no sense to write about it now before it's official.

[Dan W]

The other thing some People forget is that Bosh chooses the team. If he chooses Miami this is a good deal from them. It's Bosh's choice not Brians. Obvioulsy there could be better deals from other teams but if Bosh doesn't like those teams then there is not much that can be done unless another team gets involved which could kill the deal all togeather.