Will Chris Bosh Leave Toronto?

Rumor and speculation swirl around the upcoming 2010 NBA free agency, where franchise fortunes and titles have the potential to be made or lost. One of the names at the center of it all is the Toronto Raptors’ All-Star Chris Bosh. Whether due to his club’s disappointing season or his breakout Olympic performance, teams have not been discreet in their praise for the young power forward.

With the stakes so high, there’s no wonder that there is an endless stream of opinions and reports. All of which culminated in a recent incident where an NBA insider alleged that Chris Bosh had spoken to Brian Colangelo, general manager of the Toronto Raptors, about his decision not to re-sign.

Looking past the speculation, the facts surrounding this historic free agency shed a great deal of light on how this situation is likely to proceed. Throughout, Chris Bosh’s stance on the 2010 free agency has been consistent:

“I can’t make a decision right now. It would be crazy and absurd to do that, to make up my mind now … as opposed to a year and a half from now. My focus right now is playing basketball and trying to help the Toronto Raptors be the best team they can be.”

A fair statement from a 24 year old who has a very important decision to make – eventually. His statement is also in line with the way the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is designed.

An extension to his current contract is very unlikely given the current CBA. If Chris Bosh were to extend his current contract, he stands to lose as many as two years of guaranteed money versus waiting for free agency.

Waiting for free agency also allows Bosh to play the open market and make a decision with the maximum amount of information possible. Which teams are interested? For how much and how long are these contract offers? With whom will I be playing? What are my chances to win a championship?

A lot can happen in a year and a half, both for the Raptors and the rest of the league. It’s anyone’s guess where Chris Bosh and the other stars of his draft class will end up. One thing, however, is certain:

Chris Bosh will be a free agent in 2010.

Image by LexnGer.