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The Toronto Raptors have told the Cleveland Cavaliers they would do a sign-and-trade deal with free agent Chris Bosh that would send the forward to Cleveland, according to ESPN.com.The big "if" involved: If Bosh is willing to play in Cleveland.
The feeling in Cleveland is that the report is premature and leaning more toward speculation in a free-agent frenzy that has been rife with speculation. The same day this report came out, ESPN also reported that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov told associates he believed that Bosh would join Dwayne Wade in Miami.
Perhaps Bosh now finds himself being recruited by both James and Wade.
But if the sign-and-trade did happen with Cleveland, it would clearly be huge. Because if Bosh agrees to the trade, he would then be able to get a max contract from Toronto (which he wants) and team with James in Cleveland. Which would mean the Cavs would keep James and keep their team as a serious contender.
New York, New Jersey and Miami would be disappointed, but James would be staying home ... something that apparently means something to him.
According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Cavs would have to give up Anderson Varejao or J.J. Hickson, Anthony Parker and Delonte West in the deal (West would surely be cut before Aug. 5, giving the Raptors $4 million in salary cap room they could pass on to the paying customer). Losing one or both of the Cavs' big men would hurt, but they would then have the two stars on the roster other teams have craved.
Bosh would have to agree to the deal before signing, and though James has spoken to him about coming to Cleveland, it's not known if he would play for the Cavs. He has seemed more focused on Miami, Chicago or even Houston. But the Heat have nothing to offer in a sign-and-trade, and the Bulls would not want to give up Joakim Noah. Houston is a possibility.
Bosh had been public about his free agent status when the interview process started, posting regularly on Twitter. But the past few days he has gone quiet, with only personal posts about seeing his family on the Fourth of July.
The possible trade fits a plan the Cavs have had for years. Until the trade deadline last season, the team was reserving enough cap room to re-sign James and add another top free agent. Their top choice all along was Bosh, whose low-post scoring and rebounding skills and relationship with James seemed to be the best fit.
But in their fervor to win a title last season, the Cavs acquired Antawn Jamison at the trade deadline. Jamison is due $13.4 and $15 million the next two seasons -- which means the only way the Cavs could supplement the roster would be through a trade.
Which leads to the sign-and-trade possibility.
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