Bosh's teammates don't see him leaving

[Andrew]

According to a snippet in this article.

Interestingly, both Calderon and teammate Andrea Bargnani expressed confidence yesterday that if the Raptors play well this season and qualify for the playoffs, Chris Bosh will stay in Toronto after his current deal expires at the end of the season.

"I'm not worried about (Bosh leaving)," Bargnani said. "He loves Toronto."

"He said to me, and he's a good friend," added Calderon, "that he's happy in Toronto."

Not that we should take this as his return being set in stone, but if I had to pick one of the big names from the class of 2003 to change teams next offseason, before now I would've picked Bosh. Melo seems to be happy in Denver, Cleveland offers LeBron a chance to contend for a championship and be close to home and despite his comments about wanting to play for a contender I'm not sure Wade will be too quick to leave Miami. I had Bosh pegged as the marquee free agent who will see the grass as being greener somewhere else but now, perhaps not.

[Its_asdf]

It's pretty much up to the team's performance on determining whether or not Bosh stays in Toronto. To be honest, I wouldn't mind watching Bosh leave if he starts complaining about losses this year, because there's just as much of an onus on him to put his career to another level and lead the team. On paper, Toronto can be a pretty solid playoff team in the east so I don't see why the Raptors can't be a 4-6 seed in the playoffs barring any unforeseen injury. If Bosh can't do at least that, then I'm sure Raps fans wouldn't want to invest a max contract in a player like that anyhow.

Whether or not Bosh is worth the max is another question...

[Andrew]

If they're healthy, I think they've got to finish in that range too (or at least squeaking into the Playoffs at the seventh or eighth spot), so as long as Bosh feels it's the best situation all around going forward he'll probably re-sign. I don't think money will be an issue with most of the big names as they'll get more money than we'll ever see no matter where they go so as you said, it's up to the team's performance. To his credit, Bosh hasn't shown himself to be much of a whiner (that I can recall) so I'm not sure his attitude will become an issue.

[Al Ka Pwn]

If they can't even beat San Antonio without Parker and the big fellar, I'd be suprised if Bosh stays.

[Andrew]

Everyone loses a winnable game at some point, even the elite teams. I don't think a tough loss here or there is going to make up Bosh's mind, but a losing season and a lack of encouraging improvement with the roster could do the trick.

[NovU]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miam ... 9467.story

What do you guys think Bosh in Miami. I think it could be the most wise decision Bosh could make this coming off-season. Wade and Bosh together sounds pretty much better than T-Mac & Ming, Kobe Shaq.

"I guess that seems to be an attractive place, you know, playing with Dwyane and playing in Miami and everything. I guess if they had the right chemistry, the right guys, that they could persuade guys to get there. But we'll see."

[Andrew]

Like he said, anything is possible but I wouldn't read too much into it. I think he'd want some assurance that Wade will still be there, not to mention the possibility of the salary cap shrinking further could make it difficult to pull off.

[Rip32]

better than T-Mac & Ming, Kobe Shaq.

Did you really just mention McGrady and Yao in the same conversation as Kobe and Shaq? lol

[Its_asdf]

I hate Miami Heat fans with every fiber of my being. I honestly think the chances of Bosh leaving aren't as high as many people think. Whether I think that's a good thing or a bad thing is another though.

[Andrew]

If it's a bad thing, might I suggest Chicago as a possible destination?

[john26]

If it's a bad thing, might I suggest Chicago as a possible destination?

I'm pretty sure Colangelo wouldn't let go of Bosh easily, and would S&T him. And I don't see Chicago returning great pieces other than Rose. Hinrich is a bum, Deng has a contract identical to Bargnani (fat and ugly), and Salmons needs to get his act together.

A good trading partner would be GS.

[Andrew]

I highly doubt he's going to Chicago, I just threw it out there as a joke given Its_adsf's displeasure with the idea of him going to Miami. Of course, if Bosh does want to leave and a sign-and-trade isn't necessary to get him where he wants to go, then there's not much Toronto can do about it except hope he'll agree to a sign-and-trade anyway.

[NovU]

Careful there, Andrew. asdf might end up hating Bull's fans with every fiber of his being. Rofl.
Anyways, it's not like we're the only ones who'd love to have Bosh. He's such a talented player. Any team would love to have a player like him.

[john26]

There is a bigger chance of him leaving Toronto than staying. With the way the Raps are currently playing and how he's putting up all these stats. It looks like how Marion played his last few games last season as a Raptor.

[Andrew]

Careful there, Andrew. asdf might end up hating Bull's fans with every fiber of his being. Rofl.

A couple of years ago that would've been justified, as the Bulls had won 13 or 14 consecutive games against the Raptors. That streak is long dead, though.

There is a bigger chance of him leaving Toronto than staying. With the way the Raps are currently playing and how he's putting up all these stats. It looks like how Marion played his last few games last season as a Raptor.

Marion was quite openly unhappy in Toronto though, and had only spent half a season there. Bosh is likely to have a stronger feeling of loyalty towards the team compared to Marion, having been there since they drafted him in 2003.

[NovU]

It's early but it's quite discouraging to see them at where the Raptors are at the moment, with the record and also with the way how they are playing. Especially, when you consider the fact that non of key Raptor players are being bothered by injuries, and that they're at almost the full strength, there just shouldn't be any excuses to keep on playing at this level. Bosh is putting up great numbers alone, but non of other players seem to be helping him out. Bargnani has shown improvement, but he seems to disappear against tougher opponents. Turkglu and Calderon also are too soft I think. But again, it's early in the season, so maybe things will start to change, and Bosh again will be winning, then I think chance of resigning will greatly increase. In fact, I'd love to see him reamain in Toronto as that'd be a respectful loyal decision. Otherwise, I really would like to see him with Wade, if he were to leave the Raptors.

[Lightning Strike]

I would also love to see Bosh stay in Toronto as a loyal decision, but if the Raptors aren't winning games then I wouldn't blame Bosh at all for wanting to leave. Bosh in Miami sounds unrealistic to me, but if it happens meaning Bosh and Wade on the court at the same time, the scoreboard will soar!

[Its_asdf]

Well actually I'm pretty fond of the Bulls and I've always appreciated their youth/depth, so, I probably wouldn't hate the Bulls if Bosh went there. In fact, playing with a big man like Noah would probably be a very nice compliment for him and would probably make him play more effectively.

It's just funny how Heat fans think that they'll retain both Wade AND sign Bosh. Bosh and Wade both want a max deal, and unless the Heat want the other 3 positions on the court to be manned by Yakhouba Diawara then pursuing Bosh shouldn't be the best course of action.

[Andrew]

It's just funny how Heat fans think that they'll retain both Wade AND sign Bosh. Bosh and Wade both want a max deal, and unless the Heat want the other 3 positions on the court to be manned by Yakhouba Diawara then pursuing Bosh shouldn't be the best course of action.

It's a similar situation to the grand plans for the Knicks. There'd still be a couple of talented players there along with one or two big names acquired through free agency, but with the salary cap expected to decrease further it would be difficult to field a 12 man roster at least eight or nine players deep which is built for success.

[NovU]

As long as we sign Wade, I am going to be a happy fan. It's only a speculation at the moment but Bosh showing interest in playing with Wade is good enough for the gossip to fans like me. Possibility is always there as Bosh said. As for salary, I think we're in pretty comfortable situation with bunch of expiring contracts like Jones's and O'neal's.

[air gordon]

if i had to guess which stud FA is leaving- i see James and Bosh as the ones leaving. it's not saying much though since the chances of that happening is between 0-1% at this point of the season haha

if these guys want to win- they will sign for less then the max and go play in Miami with Dwayne Wade. if that happens, i could see a lot of other FA's wanting to sign for the veteran's minimum/part of the MLE to play in miami

it would be be a buzzkill if they all just signed with their own teams so they could get the max contract...

[Andrew]

it would be be a buzzkill if they all just signed with their own teams so they could get the max contract...

It would be anti-climactic indeed, but it wouldn't surprise me if it went down that way. After all, with all the buzz and speculation about where they could end up, who might end up playing together and which team clearing cap space is going to pull off a major coup, it only stands to reason several big names will stay put after all.

[air gordon]

if it went down that way- it just shows they are after the $$$

For someone like L James- he could go anywhere/sign for less and still make millions in endorsements.

[Andrew]

In all fairness, it shows some commitment to their current team as well.

[air gordon]

ha! screw commitment to the team!

how about commitment to getting a championship??!! how many times did we hear KG say he wants to stay in Minnesota