Bosh, Colangelo And 'The Mentalist'

   Props to our man David Lord, whose ability to interpret CBA rules and read tea leaves is second to none – not even to NBA general managers.

    Did you see this fresh item where Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo details all the reasons Chris Bosh should not be dealt this summer?

   You know what Colangelo’s explanation sounds like? It sounds like this article – from June 8 -- in which DB.com’s Lord detailed, step-by-step, why conventional wisdom regarding Bosh’s “imminent’’ departure was so wrong.

   No, David Lord isn’t sharing notes with Colangelo. Nor is he 'The Mentalist.' He just knows the rules, is all – and knows them as well as the men who are actually making decisions for the franchises.

    Using the wisdom from Colangelo and Lord, let’s update Bosh’s situation:

    Bosh said in effect: "I'm not signing an extension." Fans and media responded by saying, "That means Toronto will have to trade him, and soon."

    Lord wrote, "Nope, just the opposite: it means he will be staying in Toronto until his contract runs out, because now they know he's looking for the most money. That makes him sign with them, or it gives them sign-and-trade control and compensation. They win either way, if they wait."

    Lord went on to detail – to the year and to the dollar and to the date – the different choices facing Bosh and the Raptors -- all of them leading up to the likelihood that his departure won’t come until after July 2010. … and that it will come in the form of a Sign-and-Trade.

    (I’m to blame for the too-cute headline, which read: “Why Bosh Doesn't Want To Be Traded To Dallas -- At Least Not 'Til July 2010.’’ More accurately, it should have read: “Why Bosh Won't Be Traded To Dallas --At Least Not 'Til July 2010.)

    Now, here's Colangelo in the above-referenced interview this week on Toronto radio:

    What’s the situation with Chris Bosh and is there a possibility he signs a contract extension this summer?

   “We’ll have the discussion, we’ll talk about the pros and the cons, he’ll most likely not sign it, and then we’ll get in to next season, we’ll figure out where we are.  In respect to the situation for him, there will be a handful of teams next year - I’m guessing between five and ten - which will have maximum allowable free agent money, which means Chris is subject to walk to one of those deals. 

    But, I have to reiterate the point that keeps being overlooked - we’re the only team that can offer him a full six years versus five years, 10.5% increases versus 8% increases… Basically equates to a $30 million dollar difference.  So, even if he wants to leave, he’s still better served, and we’re better served if he works a sign-and-trade with us where we can get some sort of an asset back from the team that he’s going to. 

     And, I think that’s probably the thing that we’ll both push for because he’ll benefit from it and we’ll benefit from it, and that’s why it’s probably not time to panic now and make a bad deal.”

    What Colangelo explained to NBA fans about Bosh this week is the same thing David Lord explained about Bosh two weeks ago.

    We already know why GM Bryan Colangelo makes the big bucks in Toronto.

    And now you know why David Lord makes the big bucks at DallasBasketball.com. J