On Sunday, The New York Post reported that the Lakers were looking to acquire the Raptors’ Chris Bosh before the Feb. 18 trade deadline. Even though the report was couched in as much tentative language as possible, the Los Angels news media ran with the idea Sunday night. As the Lakers pounced on the Milwaukee Bucks, talk of Bosh filled the press lounge and postgame interviews.
Andrew Bynum, whom the rumor had moving to Toronto in the deal, had his best game of the season, with 17 points and 18 rebounds in 33 minutes. After the game, he said he wasn’t aware of the rumor. “That’s crazy,” he said, laughing.
Raptors G.M. Bryan Colangelo denied that he was looking to move his star player, telling the Post that he was not seeking a deal with any team, much less the Lakers.
But should he?
It is anticipated that Bosh will be one of the star attractions in this summer’s free-agent bonanza. He has a player option that allows him to extend his deal for one more season at about $17.1 million. But it is more likely that he will become a free agent. And with that is the distinct possibility — one that should have Colangelo concerned — that Bosh’s next contract will be somewhere other than Toronto.
The situation can play out in only a limited number of ways. Bosh can remain in Toronto next season, by exercising his player option, by becoming a free agent this summer and re-signing, or by agreeing to a contract extension before July 1. Or, he can leave the Raptors, signing with one of several teams that surely will swoop in with a maximum-salary offer. Should the latter happen, the Raptors will have nothing but possibly a little cap room to show for it.
If Colangelo concludes Bosh will end up playing elsewhere next season, he might decide it’s best to limit his losses by seeking a trade. There are two ways that can happen — one is to wait until the off-season, let Bosh become a free agent, and agree to a sign-and-trade arrangement. But then, Bosh would be under no obligation to participate in Colangelo’s plan. Although, through a sign-and-trade he could receive one more year on a contract and higher raises, in addition to possibly going to a team that otherwise wouldn’t be able to make him a large enough offer.
Given the number of teams that will have significant cap room this summer, it would be a risk to wait for Bosh to become a free agent. And that brings us back to a deal before the trade deadline.
So, the Bosh-for-Bynum idea is sounding a little less like a wild rumor
The merits of such a trade can be argued for both sides. Toronto would replace a lame duck player with a legit 7-foot center who has low-post skills and lots of upside. Bynum is also locked in for three more seasons. He has been struggling with limited touches while playing with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, but that wouldn’t be the situation in Toronto.
The Lakers would replace a low-post center with another player in the Gasol mold. However, that versatile lineup would be especially suited for Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, which thrives on interchangable parts. And if the 2008 Olympic team is any indication, Bosh would do much better than Bynum playing alongside two other legit stars.
Now for why the trade won’t happen. Bynum is a “base year compensation” player, which is legalese for really hard to trade. In an effort to ensure that players’ salaries are based on their basketball abilities and not on their trade value, base year compensation lowers a player’s trade value in the first year of a new contract or extension in which he receives a big raise.
Bynum’s base year status means he can’t be swapped straight-up for Bosh. Instead, the Lakers would have to add players to make the math work. That is probably a good thing from their perspective, since they would have to find a way to absorb Bosh’s higher salary (along with the additional luxury tax). They would likely want Sasha Vujacic to be included in any deal — which may not go over well with Colangelo because Vujacic is signed for 2010-11 at $5.5 million.
Perhaps more importantly, a deal with the Lakers might not be the best Toronto could do for Bosh. Portland, for example, has a lot of tradable assets.
Bosh’s impending free agency could also be a deterrent for the Lakers, who would not want to trade Bynum for a player who could be gone in six months.
But they could seek a seldom-used arrangement called “extend and trade” in which Bosh would have to agree to be locked in for several years with his new team.
Trade or no trade, Colangelo has something to think about in the next month.
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