Preparing for a Bosh-free future

Okay, what am I missing here?

Last week, the night of the draft, Bryan Colangelo sat at the podium discussing Ed Davis and whatever else was on his mind and said, and I quote:

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you I’m confident Chris is coming back.”

Last night, I understand he went on the radio and said it’s not likely that Chris is coming back and all heck breaks loose?

Semantics, people. Old news.

Here’s the deal: Barring some seismic shift in the NBA landscape, Chris Bosh is not returning to Toronto. He’s gone. Out of here. Entirely by his choice, mind you. But it’s bye-bye. Finished. So long. See ya.

The radio revelation was nothing, I have the feeling the Raptor hierarchy has felt for weeks that they’d better start hoping Bosh wants to go somewhere there’s a really good sign-and-trade deal possible because the “coming back” ship has sailed.

So, what next?

Well, I can assure you the front office is doing its due diligence on a handful of places he might land – nothing official, mind you; but checking contracts and fits and what have you – because the time has come to get ready to move.

Trouble is, I don’t see fits in either of the top two destinations, Miami and Chicago.

There is zero interest in Michael Beasley, there is no way in the world the Bulls are giving up Joakim Noah (although I hear Kirk Hinrich might have been a person of interest) and you’re looking at bits and pieces and trade exceptions if either of those franchises are the Bosh landing spot, I can imagine.

But the thing is: They are prepared to move on and everyone else should be, too.

I guess the door isn’t absolutely closed on a Bosh return but I’ve got it at 1-99 at the moment.

-

So, what of Bosh?

Let me say this: Not only won’t he be The Man if he goes to the Heat or the Bulls, if he goes to either city with LeBron, as some reports indicate, he’s won’t even be second fiddle.

He’ll be the third guy on a three-man team and that runs counter to everything he’s said and, to me, says something about him.

And maybe he realizes it as the free agent season opens, maybe he says, “hey, wait, I’m me, I cannot thrive in the shadow of LeBron and Dwyane or LeBron and Rose” and decides one of the five or six other suitors are a better fit.

I can imagine the Raptors are hoping that, too, because there are far better sign-and-trades out there elsewhere than there are with the Heat and Bulls.

We’ll get into them tomorrow because I need to figure out what those other teams are.

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Now, this was a classic moment in sports bar history.

Post-grad (yes, Super Son got the piece of paper and got out of there before they’d realized what he did, taking with him the Music Award in what was a first in the history of Clan Smith) I drop Super Uncle off home and decide to wander into this Real Sports place down by the arena.

Good spot, bazillions of TVs, exceptional wait staff, and as Pucks-centric a moment as I’ve ever experienced.

They’ve got this ginormous TV above the back bar (I prefer the quieter front one, actually) and about 10 p.m. on Monday, after the Jays game as over, what was it showing? NCAA hockey.

Taped, old, who-gives-a-rat’s-bum NCAA hockey.

Air Force vs. Connecticut, I believe.

Surely in the name of all that is good in world someone just momentarily lost the clicker, I’m hoping.

Unreal.

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To get ready for the summer league, the Heroes Of The Harcourt are holding a mini-camp here for whatever team they put together starting about July 6 at the Air Canada Centre, I think it is.

It’ll be the usual suspects – DeRozan, Weems, Davis, Alabi, Dorsey and whatever other free agents they’ve plucked out of the ether – and one other guy.

Jarrett Jack.

Yeah, I’m told, as of now, Jack not only plans to come back to take part in the two-day practice session but that he’s probably going out to Vegas, too, just to hang around with the guys who are there.

Kind of impressive, no?

Now, I still think there’s a possibility he’s somewhere else when training camp starts but it seems as long as he’s a Raptor, he’s really a Raptor.

-

Spain-Portugal? Could be epic.

Hope the writing’s mostly done by then because if it is, I think there might be a chance to sneak away and check out the last – and possibly best – game of the round of 16.

Who do we like?

I’m big on Spain for the usual vacuous reasons, I’ve been there, love Madrid, love Barcelona and a nice glass of Sangria never hurt. Not to mention the food.

Yep, I choose my sides carefully and after much deliberation.

-

Ryan Gomes.

Like him?

Not sure how many of you have been following what’s going on with him but the serviceable backup (who I quite like as a player, by the by) was traded from Minnesota to Portland and will either be traded or waived by 3 p.m. Tuesday to save the Blazers some money because his contract is not fully guaranteed if he’s released by that time.

I will tell you this: I know from league sources that the Raptors have made a call to see if there’s a trade fit and while it’s doubtful that gets done (it’s in Portland’s best interest, really, to waive him) I know Toronto will see if it can get something done with him in free agency.

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What the heck, let’s get this started early this week because I’ll have some down time waiting for calls to returned and comments to be posted.

If you want to get into the mailbag, click here. But I caution you, by the time it gets up Sunday morning, free agency will be underway so maybe that’s not a topic for questions right now.

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Comments

[Pain777PAS]

Doug, you could have your laptop on your deck plug inside and spend the whole day on the deck if your allowed to work from home have the radio out there or portable tv tune in to the World cup pour yourself and beverage and enjoy these GMs panic and make bad deals. Sounds good, no?

Blogger's note: I think you're on to something there!

[bob]

Hi Doug

I think it is in the best interest that Bosh goes as I do not see him as a max salary guy, because he is unable to take the team on his back. But I was wondering if indeed the Bosh, LBJ, and Wade did meet in Miami this weekend, and all three go to Miami would that not be a violation by Miami, that the league should look at. Considering they are not suppose to in negotiations until july 1st.

[David Morton]

I am tired on this whole Bosh issue. I believe the way he has handled this entire matter is exactly why,over the longer term (and I stress longer term) we will be better without him. I do not believe that we would ever win a Championship with CB as "the leader" It is just not in his make-up to be the number one guy. Reminds me a little of the Vince Carter situation. He will thrive as the number 2 or 3 guy somewhere else.

It is time to move on folks. And when he returns in another uniform, I hope we show a little class and not waste energy booing a guy who gave a lot to this franchise over seven years. Dead silence would be an appropriate greeting!

[Hedon't]

Doug explain to me the difference between the Chris Bosh situation and
Roy Halladays situation?

Both put there time in and resigned before to give there organization
another chance. Both Colangelo and Riccardi did horrible jobs surrounding
them with talent and had bleak futures and both decided to leave and who
can blame them?

So why are people bashing Bosh (who im not denying is Overrated)
and not Roy Halladay when both essentially did the same thing?

[DougG]

"He’ll be the third guy on a three-man team and that runs counter to everything he’s said and, to me, says something about him.
.
And maybe he realizes it as the free agent season opens, maybe he says, “hey, wait, I’m me, I cannot thrive in the shadow of LeBron and Dwyane or LeBron and Rose” and decides one of the five or six other suitors are a better fit."
.
I have no idea whether Bosh has any concern for consistency but playing third fiddle to Lebron and Wade seems like a complete contradiction. He already has a problem claiming he had nothing to do with the failure in Toronto choosing instead to blame the Raptor organization, his coach and his teammates. Maybe, he is just a third banana who wants to be paid like a number one superstar? As BC said, he is caught up in some international superstar phenomenon. The next time he and his two best buddies are hanging in Bangkok, it will be impossible for them to pay for a drink. They will be given real toilet paper in Morocco and since they are all so close they will likely be popular in the best discotheques around the globe.

[City Country]

Thanks for the blog Doug,

Re: Bosh and getting boo'd:

I don't think Bosh deserves to get massive boos every time he touches the ball, Wince Harder style, but my respect for Bosh dropped down several notches in the second half of this year where he evidently 'checked out' and mentally removed himself from the team and its position. Some people posit that everyone around Bosh sucked so bad and that's why we folded and missed the playoffs, but from the period where Bosh was out injured, and then came back, he seemed one-foot-out-the-door to me, and this removal of himself helped us fold as much as anything, and thus I feel that's where some degree of modest booing is possible and justified.

[Lorie]

Well, Doug, I guess anything really is possible - Sepp Blatter has just admitted FIFA needs to revisit goal line technology. What on earth could be next? Civility, courtesy and mutual respect? Well, if not worldwide, perhaps here, first. A quick question, I saw where Canada lost to Brazil yesterday. How does this affect their seeding/qualifying, if at all? Thanks - and good luck with you and that deck of yours; hopefully October is warm and sunny. :)

Blogger's note: No, they've already qualified so it's not a huge thing.

[SeanG]

Some of these comments are insane. i'm just glad you people don't have control over decision making. You'd think Free ageecy was over reading some of these comments.

[joe]

Doug,
Is it me or does it seem like a rift developed between Bosh and the Raptor organization from the all-star break on. Does Raptor management seem frustrated with his behaviour? In his time in T.O, they've treated Bosh extremely well (money, making him a focal point, building around him etc.) and Bosh doesn't seem to be very appreciative of it. Bryan alluded to the fact that there's been little communication between them since the season ended. I would think that Bosh would at least let the club know which way he's leaning. I respect Bosh very much. His effort on the court, his representation of the team off the court have been second to none. However, his behaviour since the all star break leaves me to think that too many people have been in his ear or his opinion of himself has become greatly overinflated. He may move to a new team, win a championship but like so many Raptor players that left for supposedly greener pastures, I think he'll come to regret leaving the Raptors because if he heads out with Lebron, D. Wade, etc., he's never going to be a focal point and people will always say, "Well you won because of Lebron or Wade, not you."

[John S]

I just wish that Bosh had been a bit more honest with the team back in February when they could have traded him for far more than trade exceptions / draft picks.
Obviously NBA players are people and have the right to sign anywhere they want to and they should look after themselves first because they are all one injury away from retirement.
But the flip side of the coin are NBA fans, many of whom are emotionally invested in their teams. I've been a long suffering Raptors fan, sticking with the team since Isiah burst through the Raptors logo back in '94. Maybe some fans aren't eloquent. Maybe some fans are a bit ignorant. And there are a lot of fans that are immature. But everyone has a right to their own opinion. And my opinion is that as a fan it was difficult to watch Damon force his way out of town when Isiah's laughable ownership takeover attempt was shot down. And it was even more difficult when Mcgrady left because of how amazing a Vince/Tmac duo would have been for the next decade. And the way that Vince admitted that he didn't care and wanted out still makes me angry.
Maybe I thought that Bosh was different. That having an open line of communication between the front office and Bosh who seemed much more mature than the other players would work and that a contending team would be built around him. So seeing the franchise start from scratch again is very difficult for fans to take... with the Raptors, it's always been two steps forward and three steps back. I understand that Bosh has to do what's best for him but that doesn't mean that as a fan I have to like it.
Sigh... it's a lot easier to be one of those fans who wears a Lebron or Kobe jersey but has no idea who Boobie Gibson is or can't tell the difference between Bill or Luke Walton than it is to be a Raptors fan.

[sam]

This isn't about BC and his failure to resign Bosh or surround him with talent.

It's all about Chris Bosh and his desire to explore a different enviroment.

Let's keep this in perspective.
Chris is a young adult, talented,and at the top of his game. As we all have learned he's a young man with a fair sized ego. I imagine he is enjoying all the attention, and at the same time, might be a little overwhelmed by the circus he helped create through the social and traditional media.

Did he really need to co-host a sports talk show last week in NYC? - Did he need to grant the the Miami newspaper an interview and sing the Praises of south Florida? Does he really need to tweet his every thought?
I don't think so.

It would be nice to think that Bosh will stay a Raptor.

To suggest that BC has let the fan base down, by surrounding him with so so talent is laughable. The guy works hard, as we saw last summer. Some of his moves haven't worked out as well as we had hoped, but he does move forward thoughfully and with an end goal in mind.

I remember thinking last summer we had some nice pieces to move forward - Now Subtract Bosh from the equation and the Raptors still have some good pieces. A pretty good core with Andrea, JJ, Jose, DD and sonny. I'm certain Amir will be back - The new kids will be raw, but sound promising, and if Turk stays and decides to lose the attitude we should be alright. The pieces that get picked up over the next month or so in either a sign or trade or through free agency will be the difference.

[nate]

I really can't agree with calling for Colangelo's job...remember Rob Babcock? All he can do is put a competitive team on paper on the floor, and he's done that every year. He was unlucky enough to get the first pick in the worst draft in recent memory, and frankly if we're going to rebuild I'd rather have him than the unknown alternative.

The difference between Bosh and Halladay was that Roy didn't go on a media tour and ask for opinions on twitter before he left.

[AT]

Bosh leaving is a good thing for the Raptors. He is not the guy to build a team around and guaranteed no other team will. If he goes on to play on a winning team, be assured he will not be the number one guy on that team.

Bosh is good but not as good as he thinks he is. I think the Raptors should go after Joe Johnson just for the mere fact that he has been quiet through this process and avoided the ridiculous dog and pony show the Bosh is on.

Doug, are you still reserving judgment on if the raptors are better or worse without bosh until we find out what they get in return?

[Jack]

Booing Bosh goes to show the lack of understanding and respect of too many of Toronto fans. He was injured with two different injuries the second half of the season and he 'cheked out'? Please. Get over yourselves. How many of you go to work when you are sick or injured? For all the talk about players like Kobe and Nash who 'play through the pain' etc what everyone seems to ignore is the fact that they all had LEGITIMATE shots at going deep into the playoffs. Bosh always had none. I repeat, none. So what, he should play through it and possibly create a worse injury in a free agent year?. Get real people. For two seconds put yourself in his expensive shoes and consider if you would act any differently. This is not to say that he is a number one guy. Remeber, he was originally to be a foil to VC. Given how that panned out Bosh to me at least has been a loyal employee who always represented this city well and played above a level I think anyone ever thought that he would. Bosh thanks. Coangelo, MLSE them I can't stand.

[Hedon't]

It's truly amazing that Colangelo is on the verge of losing the franchise
player for next to nothing in return and people are willing to give Colangelo
a Free Pass! It really is mind boggling and hard to fathom such
incompetence from a fan base.The problem with the Raps, Jays, and Leafs
is that losing is accepted and tolerated. That's why MLSE and Rogers
put out crappy products year after year the gullible fans accept it like sheep.

Blogger's note: And, as I recall, you pay for season tickets, right?

[Matt G]

Good morning Doug.

I try and follow you every day but I'm sure there's a chat or blog I missed. Before I ask a question, more akin to journalism and the dynamics of a beat reporter, I wondered if you already weighed in on the Wilner episode of the few weeks back?

If not, I have a question for you. If yes, then I won't waste more of your time.

Blogger's note: I don't believe I have; if you want to send a question to the mail bag, I'll get to it.

[greg]

To Derek S who wanted to know more about the Raptors salary situation.
Check out hoopshype.com it gives a team by team report on who gets paid what.

Here is the link for the raptors.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/toronto.htm maybe there is some salary cap explanations on there too

[Adrian]

First of all, this is not "Old News". Stop telling people to wait before reacting (as you did many times recently) because "nothing's done until it's done". If it's old news now and was straight paranoia before, when was it actually news? You're hiding again.

Colangelo makes me nauseous. This is a disaster to the highest degree and what he's saying now is precisely why. He won't move Turk because he needs to see how the Bosh saga unfolds? Everything is reactive, no action. Is that not equivalent to simply asking Bosh to leave? Does he need fans to tell him what Bosh said at the exit interview: that changes need to be made for him to re-sign? And now Colangelo's waiting for someone else to make the first move? All talk, no action.

Anyone notice how Colangelo wasted no opportunity to throw Chris under the bus in that interview, saying he was involved in every major decision? Some of you people complain about Bosh during the year when he says "It's not my fault, I can't do everything." Where do you think our soft-spoken Raptor learned to talk like that?

Anyone notice how Colangelo brings up the "We Want Wade" campaign in Miami (who happen to be in the news for all the right reasons these days- I guess it's a coincidence) and how the Raptors were GOING to do something similar before "the tenor in the market changed"? Is he now demanding credit for doing something he didn't do? Is he demanding credit for his plans and talk? Is that not the main problem right there? All talk, no action. Talk is good enough for this man.

The tenor in the market (whatever the hell that means) didn't change enough to stop the Heat from doing it, Bryan. And they might be reaping the rewards today. Maybe if you'd been proactive for once and changed the tenor in the market yourself as opposed to waiting for everything to fall in place for you...

And then the repeated claim that this is 100% Chris Bosh's decision- from you too, Doug. Is this Saturday Night Live? This is Chris Bosh's decision as much as it is your decision not to eat food at a table that's serving mold. Yes, I guess it ultimately comes down to him not wanting any portions- but who's setting the table here? Chris Bosh is not living in a vacuum. Colangelo's inactivity makes this decision a no-brainer for him. This is Colangelo's responsibility more so than anyone else's. And he's done nothing. Ducking for cover. And you wonder why the Raptors play like that, too? From whom do you think they inherited that defeatist-woe-is-me-I'm-powerless-to-do-anything-Just-take-it-easy-on-me culture?

I'm not a big fan of blaming GM's in sports. It's not always their fault- things often run deeper. But this is an exception. Colangelo is, to me, categorically incompetent. He probably has good intentions but he's been reading his own press clippings- and the media has let him off the hook- for so long that he can't see his hand from his face anymore. He's become a completely reactive leader, made worse by the fact he claims he's the opposite. Total denial. Excuses every step of the way. Hmmm ... Denial, Excuses? Sound familiar? Team naturally reflect the traits of their top manager. I never thought I'd say this but...

Bring Back Babcock.

[kelsie]

BC was in fine form on the Fan yesterday but gave some nuggets on his mind set going forward that should give Raps fans some cause for concern.

His interview served to show the issues of having a GM who while always trying to win (which is good) will entrench this franchise in mediocrity because of an unwillingness to rebuild and start again. He clearly overvalues the talent on this roster minus Bosh.

The “mass exodus” of talent he wants to avoid is happening with Bosh leaving and should continue to happen. Get rid of the long term contracts with Turks and Calderon and get the franchise out from under contracts of underperforming players. Ride out the next couple years on expirings and draft picks if possible.

The Raps will be a lottery team for the next few years, but if you let your young guys mature and obtain some high lottery picks, you’re back in business again. Portland, and OKC didn’t take long to get good again using this approach.

Colangelo’s worried about being a “bad” team next year which is exactly what they are and should be instead of a medicore team that never sinks to the bottom but is a lower rung team that can't add any significant talent. There is no young player currently on this roster that will be a star or a go to guy in this league. Bargnani will become a volume shooter that doesn't get to the line to get his 20 and DeRozan doesn't have the handle to be a star perimeter player. Premier talent wins in this league and right now they don't have it. Get some top picks and you can build again the right way.

Why keep Calderon or Turks (as he alluded to yesterday) when they should be rebuilding? If BC is not prepared to do this or it is not in his nature they should find a GM that will. It's time to clean up the mess. The Raps need some long-term franchise stability desperately. At least Davis was added to the roster which is a good move in the right direction.

I also found it ironic that Bosh was part of this “perfect storm” with teams having big cap space to pursue this class of free agents. The Raps would have been part of this “perfect storm” as well if Colangelo had of kept O’Neal’s contract. Now the Heat are the major player who are now going to turn around and acquire players this offseason. Can't knock BC totally for trying to get better quickly but it didn't work and the decision maker usually gets the glory or the criticism.

A GM’s job is to have the foresight and manage long-term goals of the club. Colangelo has clearly not done this.

A last side note (sorry for the rant) but while I appreciated BC's candid comments the whole "we were planning on a campaign to bring Bosh back after the all-star break like Wade in Miami" thing was "interesting"..... this should have started last year when it might have meant something.

What do you think Doug? Keep on moving forward with the year to year plans that the Raps seem to employ or be a bad team for the next few years and build through the draft?

Blogger's note: I think it's harder to get to "ground zero" than most people think. It's all well and good to say: "Get rid of the long term contracts with Turks and Calderon and get the franchise out from under contracts of underperforming players" until you have to actually do it.

[SA]

Happy to hear Sam got asst. coaching position with the Nets. Really, the Raps went from soft to super soft after BC pulled the plug on him. At least Sam tried to toughen them up and make them accountable for their actions on the court -- where has giving Bargs room to play through poor defensive rotations got us since? Better offensive stats for Bargs!? Good luck Sam. Hope you're head coach somewhere again soon...

And how about instead of booing Bosh we boo BC and demand MLSE build a competitive, consistant 50-plus-game-winning team(a franchise like Utah too much to ask?)

[daveP]

Good that Bosh their best offensive minded player leaves, So Raptors can now start building team chemistry properly focusing from the defensive-ground up what many championship teams aspire to do. What many of us don't realize are players like Troy Murphy's 3 pts, Boozer and Gasol Bros. tenacity, Amare's athleticism have skillsets that Bosh has but Bosh skills match up with all of these but he's QuicK and extrememly hard to defend shooting many free throws at a high clip. The only unfortunate part of him leaving is the Raptors now have to defend a guy like Chris Bosh. Yeesh! Good thing is though I remember Bosh having some difficulty guarding Reggie Evans. Ryan Gomes...good luck with guarding Bosh on the rotations!

[Bryan]

If Bosh signs / traded, he gets max $$ over the life of the contract. Is this the same with Lebron? Does he maximize his contract worth in a sign 'n' trade, too? So, if James and Bosh go to the same team, be it Chicago / Miami as an example, and Lebron moves first, therefore Cleveland gets the pick of the litter in players from that team in a trade, what exactly would that leave for Toronto... a sign and trade where we get an assistant trainer and their top floor swiffer guy in return?? What are the chances, I ask, of a straight-up sign to a rival team, no trade, opening a Raptors opportunity to pursue some of the other free agents beyond 'the new Bosh team' roster in the 40+ free agent class of 2010? Is that the ideal scenario???

[Coach K]

When a ship has sailed, there is no use trying to blow it back to shore! Wave Good bye and get back to work!

[chris]

1 - Bosh to Miami for a giant TPE and a first round pick (or a TPE and Beasley), and turn around and trade that to Memphis for Rudy Gay. We'd likely have to overpay him to come here, but our surrounding pieces look a lot better than anywhere else (NY??, please)....and it'd give us a more balanced roster.

2 - what does wanting to win instead of being "the man" say about Bosh? You're missing something, Doug

3 - the fact htat he's leaving - potentially for nothing - is a HUGE deal......regardless of how you paint it.

[James]

Doug:

With Bosh set to leave, do you think it changes MLSE's appetite for going into the Luxury Tax? I am assuming that a Bosh S&T wouldn't bring back much start power leaving this team a little punchless, and I don't think paying Luxury Tax for a team in the mix for a low playoff spot would be too enticing.

I agree with your commets regarding Bosh's realization that he wouldn't be "the man" playing alongside LBJ and Wade, and I hope his ego takes over. I think the best S&T deal out there for him and the Raptors could be in Houston. Just one man's opinion.

Keep up the good work.

J

Blogger's note: No, if they need to go into the tax, they will