The Long (Though Possibly Short) Goodbye

I don’t follow the Raptors Fan Forums very closely (they are too numerous and too populous), so this may be old news in Raptorland, but, it’s time to start planning the farewell parade for Chris Bosh.

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The reports of the Raps interest in David Lee do make good sense – he is a good young player and the centerpiece of the current Knicks squad – but, only as a sign-and-trade target, not a free agent signee. Signing Lee outright makes little sense for Toronto, since they would have too few minutes to go around upfront and too little money to go around on the wings. The Raps may well make an outright contract offer to Lee, but, eventually, the transaction would come down to a trade, Chris Bosh for a newly re-upped Lee plus another player to balance contracts – best case scenario, Danilo Gallinari.

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Yes, this disappointing – another step down the path well-trodden by Stoudamire, McGrady, Carter, et al – but, in the case of Bosh, his leaving would have much more to do with the continuing ineptness (and unluckiness) of the Raptor franchise and less to do with ego, or imaginary slights of the players’ mom. If the Raptors had employed competent Head Coaches or General Managers more often; or lucked into the first overall pick in 2007 rather than 2006, Bosh might be the first star player to be a Raptor-for-life.

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As it stands now though, the sign-and-trade scenario makes good sense for both teams.

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I have spent months, and thousands of unpublished blog words, dreaming up scenarios for improving the 2010 Raptor team enough to entice Bosh to re-sign. Barring a highway robbery style trade (Marcus Banks for Kevin Durant, anyone?) the scenario does not exist in which this team is much better than .500 next season. And, come the trade deadline, Bosh’s trade value will be lower, due to the unlikelihood of a championship aspirant team having good, movable pieces to acquire him in midseason. Now that he has been confronted with the realities of the free agent market, Bryan Colangelo must know that now is the time to move Bosh.

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Lee is a better fit to play alongside Andrea Bargnani, and would give the Raps a dominant rebounder – perhaps the first one in team history. Moreover, an available player at another position – like small forward Josh Childress – could replace a fair chunk of the mid-range offence that Bosh brings and Lee does not, while Lee brings a stronger post presence to the offensive end.

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As for the Knicks, they are in an awkward spot with David Lee, facing the possibility of being outbid for his services, yet uncertain that he can be a player in a shiny era of Knicks dominance. Visions of a Bosh + tandem will dance in their heads: Bosh + LeBron James; Bosh + Dwayne Wade.

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Ultimately, though it is frustrating to be back here again – with another star player on the way out rather than re-signing with Toronto – a trade for David Lee would be a relatively attractive way to transition from Bosh.