How everyone handled themselves in a very odd process

Some day, eh?

First call from about 7:30 a.m., last call from a guy about 10:20 p.m. Gotta love the gig.

But it was fun at some level, wasn’t it?

And there’s more to come.

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So, I know what you think – the 150 or so comments here and the 100 or so that accompany the various news stories were enough for me – and I’m still trying to figure out what I think.

And this is what I get to:

Chris Bosh made the best decision for Chris Bosh and, at the end of the day, don’t we all have to look out for No. 1?

He’s 26 years old, been working the same job for seven years and had a chance to move to a different city to work with a better group of colleagues and he took it.

Wouldn’t you?

I might, especially if those seven years hadn’t been all that successful.

But there are so many layers to this whole situation it’s really hard to get your head around all of them.

Let’s go through a few:

How Bosh acted.

I’ll say this up front: I quite like Chris Bosh. He’s a good man at heart, I believe, he’s been nothing but respectful and cordial and professional with me and I’ve seen him every step of the way, from here to Beijing.

That said, I don’t think he handled himself particularly well during his whole process, not with the Raptors, not with the fans, not with the media.

That he put himself out there in public should come as no surprise – this is a dude who did a video about getting a tattoo, for goodness sake – but not being open and forthright and accommodating with the Raptors was disrespectful. And to not take 20 seconds on that faux interview yesterday afternoon to thank the people and organization that helped make him what he is was bad. Very bad.

I don’t know if this is some seismic shift in Bosh’s personality or not; I don’t think it is but it was a definite blackmark on an otherwise solid reputation.

I presume someone close to him will tell him that, and I hope he understands how he hurt some people up here.

How the Raptors acted

It became apparent to lots of people it the organization about March that Bosh was going to leave so that he’s gone really doesn’t surprise a lot of people.

Now, it’s easy to say in hindsight that they should have traded him last February at the deadline but, if you recall, things were going pretty darn well at the point, the sense was Bosh was happy, we were fielding calls and e-mails about him being the best power forward in the game and certain all-NBA pick. It went south, no question. But at the deadline, there was no sense a trade was necessary.

Anyway, that quite aside, once this whole process started, the Raptors knew they had lost a little bit of control in the situation, that it would be up to Bosh to pick a team and then for them to work something out in a sign-and-trade.

Now, there may very well be something coming back for Bosh, the door is not entirely closed on a sign-and-trade so all this needs to be tempered by that fact.

But perhaps they misread him a bit, too. I know some in the organization were convinced that Bosh would be about the money and that the allure of a sixth year on a contract would be enough to ensure they got something in return.

Maybe that isn’t going to happen and that would make this a very big black mark on the tenure of GM Bryan Colangelo.

But let’s see how it shakes out in the next 24 hours.

What the future holds

I had a guy say to me yesterday afternoon something along the lines of:

“They’ve got no chance to make the playoffs now.”

And I kind of thought:

“Well, they didn’t make the playoffs the last two years, what’s the difference?”

Maybe as much as this was a good basketball decision for Bosh, maybe it’s a good basketball decision for the Raptors, too, even if it was kind of forced on them.

It didn’t work to great extents with Chris here, they were good some years, bad some years and middling some other years. They tried a whole bunch of things, coaches, teammates, styles, and nothing seemed to really click.

Maybe it is time to regroup, to find some other style of play, let this group run and see if someone or something emerges. I don’t know if it will and I don’t know if it won’t but it should be interesting to watch.

I have a friend, Kate, who’s one of the better editors I’ve got, and one of the Irregulars around these parts. Got a note from her that ended with this:

“Moving on … I’m actually pretty excited about the Young Gunz era! I know we might not be winning as many games, but I expect the entertainment level will be as good if not better with these talented kids – including the rookies, who look to be great addition.”

I had a few more comments and e-mails like that, too.

It’s going to be a new era around here for sure, no question about it. It might be bad, it might be good, it might surprise everyone.

And, you know, the unknown might be one of the good things about sport, you throw the ball up, see what happens and watch and enjoy.

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Oh yeah, if you want to watch, I hear TSN’s picking up the hour-long LeBronathon.

If it ends with him, Bosh and Wade singing You’ll Never Walk Alone, I’m throwing something at the TV.

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What of LeBron?

Miami? Cleveland?

From the world of total guesswork, I’m saying Miami for no real reason except because I feel compelled to put in my two cents.

And if it is, we have all tomorrow to figure out whether it’s good or bad for the NBA.

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Mail check one more time. Got lots in there that are rants and comments and quite entertaining on the whole but a lot of ‘em lack the requisite feature of a mailbag question.

That being a question.

So click here and send some if you like.

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One thing we’ll delve into tomorrow for sure is the salary cap situation of the Raptors and the league.

It was with huge interest that I saw the cap and tax numbers released by the league last night.

The cap is set at $58.044 million and the tax level is $70.307 million; last year they were $57.700 million and $69.920 million, respectively.

Kind of makes it hard to believe the league’s contention that teams are in dire financial straights when the money to spend goes up, doesn’t it?

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Anyway, got Amir Johnson hoopla at 1 p.m. and more phone work on what else Bryan might have up his sleeve (the mid-level guy is coming soon, I’m betting we get a trade in the next little while).

Stick around, who knows what might unfold.

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Comments

[Jamie S]

To borrow a quote from a popular Toronto Sports Radio program, Bosh is going to Miami to play with Dwayne Wade and 10 guys named who....I'm not sure how that's a better team, but I will no doubt be proven wrong. If it was all about winning, he would have gone to Houston or Chicago.

[Phat farmer]

I have really mixed feelings right now. Although i was never the biggest Chris Bosh fan, he started to win me over towards the All-Star Break. Since then he has completely disappointed me with his on and off court behaviour. You can count me as one of the ppl who will be sure to boo the hell out of him when he plays his first game back. Peace out CB4.

[Andre]

Yup I agree with you... Let the young Gunz play, and entertain us.

If labron signs with miami, ill become a laker fan... and i HATE the lakers

[coachd]

Hi Doug,
I've been reading your work for a long time and this is probably the best blog that you've ever written. Everything you write is absolutely bang on. Great work.

[john]

Hey Doug,
Now that CB has told everyone that he is going to the Heat for less than the max, is there any benefit at all to the Heat to want to do a sign and trade? Do they get some cap relief or anything?

Blogger's note: No, they'd have him under contract for an extra year.

[anthony]

Let's hope we get back our first round pick from Miami; I'm pretty sure it's an unprotected one, at this point, and if the Raps as bad as I'm thinking they may be, this deal will hurt a whole lot more next summer than it does this one. Ouch!

Blogger's note: Protected through 2015

[ed]

there should be an investigation into collusion. bring back butch so he can sue bosh.

[AT]

Doug,
Why is everyone "all of sudden" judging this team with what it will be like without Chris Bosh? Like you said, everyone knew that for awhile. Bryan Colangelo is getting blasted by fans and media about what happened but up until now, BC has been a genious. Fans should go back to last summer and see what there reactions were to moves he made... Not too many people were critical at that time. ITS NOT HIS FAULT that things did not pan out on the court. Colangelo since he started with the raps as done a great job of assembling a team, what they do on the court after that is up to the coach and more importantly the players. I have faith in Colangelo that he is going to put a decent if not, at least entertaining group on the floor. Chris Bosh leaving is not the end of the world. Raptors were never going to win with him as their leader. In Miami, it will be the D. Wade show.. Chris Bosh is not as good as this process as made him out to be. The real issue here, is not getting something back in return. Even if it was Beasley, and Colangelo does not want him, there are teams out there that will take a chance on a former #2 pick overall.

[Jam]

Well said Doug. I think us poor raptor fans are tired of being perceived as the ugly duckling. But I think this could be the start of something different and we can look forward to some of the younger guys coming out. I have some very strong feelings against this lebron "show" today and eagerly anticipate your synopsis onthis whole circus, when it's all said and done.

[Rob]

Looking at the Raptors roster it looks like they have about 48 million committed. Worst case they don't get anything back for Bosh and they renounce Wright and other free agents does that mean they'll have 10 million to spend instead of just the MLE?

Blogger's note: No, there are cap holds, Bosh is still on the books until he signs, they were over the cap at 12:01 a.m. Thursday

[Jerry]

As much as us real basketball fans hate it a the Miami Dream team may be a good thing for the NBA. I expect they will sell a lot of tickets all over the league and increase the TV audience. All three will likely earn enough in sponsorship money to make any salary compromises look like pocket change. In the end I guess that is what it is all about.

[Ren]

This is silly - what no one is talking about are the other legit teams in the east. With the chemistry almost entirely intact for the main players in the roster, and the fact that they are young, both Chicago and Atlanta are, as far as I am concerned, way ahead of the game. We have seen what Boozer does to Bosh: they simply cancel each other out. That leaves Wade versus Rose, oh, and that young hustler, Noah with a very good defensive team (Chicago win). On the other side, Atlanta, you could argue, is only a big man away from being legitimate. And, with new coaching, may have more fluidity on offense (Atlanta win). The Miami setup is intriguing, no doubt, bu they have set themselves up for next year or bust - a half court team in an eastern conference filling itself with young runners. Atlanta and Chicago are young and strong and ready to go. In no way has Chicago lost here, I would say they won. Comments, Doug?

[kelsey]

Bosh good luck to you, Yes I think maybe he could have handled it better, but Im just a fan. We dont know the inner workings of what took place. Just like many of us, we look out for us and family 1st not a bunch of fans or our employer.

Raptors management has failed big time, from ownership down thru scouting, coaching etc. They extend Bargnani a year early WHY?. They failed to bring proper back court help for Bosh. They fire Sam Mitchell to bring in Jay Triano....Im thinking Colangelo may have to big of a EGO for this franchise..

Anyhow Colangelo doesnt get even a draft pick or trade exception out of this Bosh deal it will be a colossal fail.

Next all of you El Mago (Bargnani) fans got what you want, Bargnani as the headline player for the Raptors. Actually Im glad Bosh moved on, so now you people who defend Bargnani, will have nobody to focus the blame on.

Im sick a 7ft jump shooting non rebounding player, as the Raptors premier player.. SICK I say SICK...

[Sam - Dorval, Quebec]

D-Wade has been injured too many times and I wonder how C.B would react, being surrounded by bunch of d-leaguers (yes 16 mil to fill 10 spots???? good luck thinking heat can get ron artest and/or stephen jackson's likes) once d-wade goes down. I dont see Miami in top 4 teams in eastern FOR SURE. I also think Bosh will be booed at ACC just like Vince Carter. At the end, Raps die-hard fans and MGMT deserved a bit of respect as we made him to be the player who he has become today (He confirmed on his tweet also).
Can we get Haslem instead of Beas?

[Geoff Read]

Good blog Doug. I share your feelings on Bosh - I've always been a fan - but the guy really turned me off over the past couple of months. He carried himself with a total lack of class. In a weird reversal, it's been Lebron James - whom I've always thought of as a bit of a self-centred jerk - who's comported himself with some dignity during this whole three-ring circus.

[monty]

Hi Doug,

Your blog this morning was excellent. I am not sure how different this season would be if we were able to sign Bosh with all the current pieces. Don't get me wrong, would have preferred if Bosh re-signed with the Raptors - but to your point - we have missed the playoffs the past 2 years and not sure if that would have changed this year.

[Matty-Pix]

Trade huh?
What a teaser for the end of the column. Are you learning from the class of 2003 how to drive traffic and build the brand?
Any word on a Wright S&T, or any PG's on the move?

Blogger's note: Absolutely no interest anywhere in a Wright sign and trade and I don't know about the PGs yet. Been other fish to fry

[Peter]

Please let's not start this talk of booing. For once let's take the high road. This whole thing is getting boring. Stars leave, we take it personally, booing ensues...rinse, lather, repeat.

Let's just get on with our fan lives and watch some basketball.

[Dee from Sauga]

No doubt Bosh leaving was no surprise to many but it still hurts a little bit. No one can blame him for moving to a team with a superstar especially if that guy plays in Miami (ever been to South Beach?). You can't blame him for wanting to move to a team that apparently takes care of its former players and shows them all the love in the world. You can't blame CB at all. But I have the Toronto fans can and will. The Boo Birds will be in full flight his first game back but you wont hear them from section 119, row 5, seats 7-8. I'll stand up and clap. CB4 gave Toronto all he had and when times were tough, pulled up his boat straps and just played. Good on CB for making a move to greener pastures...but he could've at least say bye properly like Doc Hallady.

[Timbo Slice]

Hi Doug,

Maybe I'm wrong on this one, but if Bosh walks without a sign-and-trade, I believe that leaves the Raps about $4M under the salary cap. If that's the case I'm can they use the mid-level exemption? Isn't that only reserved for teams over the cap? Do you think BC will make a trade that puts them over? If that's the case, there seems to be a chance that we miss out on the mid-level feeding frenzy for good players up front.

Thanks

Blogger's note: They have the mid-level exception; they were over the cap at 12:01 this morning; and if they were only $4 million below it, they'd still have it. It's available to teams that are under the cap by less than the value of the mid-level exception

[ed]

it's going to be sooo fun to boo. i love that toronto has a reputation around the league for being hard on returning players that left poorly (anyone who says we do it to every raptor see the return of alvin williams, mo pete, etc to see how we value players who value us). Anyone who complains about the booing is taking away something unique, fun and that's almost gaining a sort of culture to it, like the fans who stand until their teams sinks a basket. It shows our pride- we don't sit quietly on our hands or humbly take the bad behaviour of star athletes. we express ourselves, stand up for ourselves, and make people think a little more about the passion they left behind, all while making the atmosphere at the acc that much more fun. i hope we give it to bosh good, not because we're trying to make a 100 mill star cry in his cornflakes, but because it's the fans' way of standing up for themselves. and if you don't like it? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

[DougG]

I'm hating Bosh more than Carter at the moment and will be in the boo chorus, if I bother going to another Raptor game. It outrageous that Toronto and Canada continue to be embarrassed by illiterate morons from the southern states. I can't see how this is good for anyone but Miami. My guess is the NBA will suffer as a result of this collusion, at least I certainly hope so.

[Kwong Yiu]

Hi Doug, have to agree with your friend, Kate. We had Bosh for a good 7 seasons and had made a few tweaks here and there, but the team was getting nowhere. Honestly, I don't see how Raptors would go anywhere even if Bosh was to stick around or get any worse without him. Time for a change.

[Peter]

No Vinny this morning? No Boozer this morning? No Ray Allen this morning? No Durant this morning? And people were complaining about a lack of Raptor's content in this space??? Most of all, I'm missing the Mighty Yankee's updates! :)

Blogger's note: Had kind of planned an omnibus free-agent-palooza for the weekend when the dust settles

[Jeff]

A number of reports are suggesting James is signing with the heat. This is going to be sick. Doug is it better for the Raps if he signs with the heat to make a super power, or signs with the Cavs? I am thinking the Heat would be better because then the cavs would become another struggling team in the east....

Blogger's note: May as well get swept by a team with James, Wade and Bosh than lose four times to a team with Wade and Bosh and four times to a team with LeBron, right?