Why should the teams with cap space get to have all the fun? Even if the Cavs don’t want any part of a sign-and-trade for LeBron and Dwyane Wade seems locked into Miami, the Raptors not only appear open to the idea of signing-and-trading Chris Bosh, but Bryan Colangelo actually prefers it. From Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
The Toronto Raptors have begun to assess which players they would try to obtain in potential sign-and-trade transactions involving free-agent forward Chris Bosh. Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo told a Toronto radio station he thinks Bosh “likely” will leave the team. Should Bosh decide to sign elsewhere, Colangelo also said the Raptors will try to engage in a sign-and-trade deal to bring the franchise some measure of compensation.
Sources said the Raptors will try to acquire draft picks and young players in return for Bosh. They would likely ask for forward Michael Beasley and point guard Mario Chalmers in any deal with the Miami Heat. If Bosh were to go to the Chicago Bulls, the Raptors like forward Taj Gibson and center Joakim Noah, though Noah could prove impossible to pry from Chicago. If Bosh settles on the New York Knicks, the Raptors would try to engage in a double sign-and-trade that sends Knicks forward David Lee to Toronto. Sources called a potential sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Lakers “doubtful.”
That’s great and all, but if the Raptors really are exploring sign-and-trade possibilities, that opens up a whole new group of suitors for Chris Bosh’s services. So far, we know two things about Bosh: he wants to play his natural position (power forward) and wants to be “the man.” Whatever that means. So in addition to Bosh’s assumed free agent suitors, we could also add a number of other teams to the mix.
The Denver Nuggets, for example, may be able to put together an interesting package featuring Ty Lawson, Kenyon Martin’s expiring contract, and draft picks. The Houston Rockets could combine expiring contracts with intermediate value (like Shane Battier) with young, proven assets (like Aaron Brooks) and even a signed-and-trade Luis Scola, who I’m sure appeals to Colangelo’s Euro sensibilities.
The Oklahoma City Thunder could even make a play (perhaps involving Jeff Green, Eric Maynor, Serge Ibaka, or any number of intriguing players) if Bosh is willing to play nice with Kevin Durant. Such move would negate the Thunder’s one real weakness, and the idea of a Westbrook-Sefolosha-Durant-Bosh-Aldrich starting lineup is absolutely fantastic.
All of those options are conjecture, but Colangelo opening the door for a sign-and-trade not only allows Chris Bosh to immediately join a competitive team, but could actually net the Raptors something in return. Colangelo obviously won’t get anything near equal value, but the assets Toronto could potentially acquire may help to jump-start a rebuild.
Of course, the giant, league-changing elephant in the room is the Miami Project, Pat Riley’s no-going-back plan for basketball proliferation. If Bosh were signed-and-traded to the Heat (which Dan LeBatard “reports” -- and I use that term loosely given the source -- is a done deal, even if it’s only agreed to in principle), it would have to include both Beasley and Chalmers going to Toronto, as Spears noted above. Miami still wouldn’t have enough cap room to sign both Dwyane Wade and LeBron James to max deals outright, but we’re at least looking at a cap figure that would allow something in the ballpark of two max contracts.
Someone would have to take a pay cut, but a sign-and-trade move for Bosh would position the hands on the Doomsday Clock a few minutes closer to midnight. Still, Bosh doesn’t see it happening, and Michael Grange of the Toronto Globe and Mail cites a source that refutes the immediate Bosh-to-Miami rumors. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but we can at least wait a little while longer before we crawl under our desks to wait for the fallout.
