Outside agent says Heat is front-runner in race for Bosh
MIAMI — A long-time
NBA agent representing several players on the upcoming free-agent market told the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday that he expects the
Miami Heat to land
Toronto Raptors power forward
Chris Bosh during the impending NBA free agency period.
Aware that Bosh is seeking the type of maximum contract that only would be available through a sign-and-trade agreement, the agent said Toronto could be in a position where it recognizes it has to take pennies on the dollar in such a transaction.
By first re-signing with the Raptors and then being dealt to the Heat, Bosh would be eligible for a six-year, $125 million contract. By signing outright with the Heat, Bosh would be limited to a five-year, $96 million package.
An executive of another team with considerable cap space said Wednesday he was unaware of any pending agreement involving Bosh.
The player agent offered his thoughts on Bosh hours before
ESPN personality Dan LeBatard, the 790 The Ticket host and Miami Herald columnist, offered on his
Twitter account, "I hear bosh-miami is done ..bosh-wade shared agent avoids tampering...its why beasley, chalmers, anthony still here...raptors get them."
The Heat's assets in any trade would be limited to forward Michael Beasley, a player who in the past has held limited appeal to the Raptors, and point guard Mario Chalmers. The Heat also holds the right-of-first-refusal with center Joel Anthony, but Anthony would have to give his consent to be involved in any such deal. Anthony is a Canadian citizen and a member of the Canadian national team that will compete later this summer in the World Championships in Turkey.
The Heat also holds a future lottery-protected draft choice it own from the Raptors, a pick gained in the 2009 trade of
Shawn Marion for
Jermaine O'Neal.
Chalmers' agent, Sam Goldfeder, said Wednesday, "I have not heard anything about that from either side. I have not heard anything."
While free-agent negotiations can begin Thursday, free-agent signings can commence no sooner than July 8. While agreements can be reached in advance of the signing date, there have been changes of heart throughout the years. Last year,
Orlando Magic free-agent forward
Hedo Turkoglu backed out of an agreement with the
Portland Trail Blazers and instead joined the Raptors. Before that,
Elton Brand back out of an apparent agreement with the
Los Angeles Clippers to sign with the
Philadelphia 76ers.
Among the reasons the agent, who asked his name not be disclosed, said he believed Bosh would land with the Heat is that the
Phoenix Suns remain in negotiations on a contract extension with power forward Amare Stoudemire, another potential Heat target.
Prior to the most recent round of negotiations with the Suns, Stoudemire posted on his Twitter account. "Pulling to my office in LA, about to meet with the Phoenix Suns. This is going to be a great meeting. I'll keep you posted. Gone !!"
Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo has expressed little previous interest in Beasley and is currently declining comment on free-agency matters.
He did tell a Toronto radio station, "I've been saying all along, anybody that says they know what's happening is nonsense. There is all sorts of different things you could talk about, different pictures you could paint."
Team executives are prohibited from discussing outside free agents before the midnight start of the free-agency period. However, the Sun Sentinel did confirm through the league office that teams are allowed to discuss possible sign-and-trade parameters in advance. Heat President
Pat Riley has said he would make such discussions a priority.
To Bosh, the process remains a whirlwind. He offered on his Twitter account, "After all these years. Just 24 hrs left. Wow. I'm getting anxious."
He followed by offering on his Twitter account, "It funny how years come down to hours and minutes."
A Bosh acquisition could be the first step in a bid to also land
Cleveland Cavaliers free-agent forward
LeBron James. But dealing the salaries of Beasley, Chalmers and Anthony, the Heat would have sufficient cap space to re-sign
Dwyane Wade and add two top-tier free agents.
In addition to Bosh and Stoudemire, the Heat also has been linked to interest in
Utah Jazz power forward Carlos Boozer, who recently told the Sun Sentinel that his ties to Wade and Nick Arison, a Heat executive who is the son of Heat owner
Micky Arison, make Miami a desirable destination.
