Allow us to start with the truth: Neither Chris Bosh nor LeBron James is going to leave the Miami Heat in free agency.
But it’s fun/interesting/perfectly normal/necessary to speculate. And that’s just what we’re doing here.
According to FOX Spors’ Sam Amico, Bosh and the Los Angeles Lakers share interest in one another:
I do think there’s a possibility Bosh could opt out to sign with the Lakers — but that admittedly seems like a long shot. I can tell you the interest is there on both sides. But will the Lakers have the cash? And would Bosh want to leave a real contender for a team that needs rebuilding?
The answers are yes and yes. Bosh would be a clear No. 2 man (behind Kobe Bryant) in LA. Being a star in Hollywood is among the few things that supersede being a third option in South Beach. But a lot of things would be in play here. First, it would mean the Lakers letting free agent Pau Gasol walk. No biggie there. Second, it would mean Bosh opting out of a really good situation. A little bigger deal. Third, the Lakers would have to find money under the cap for Bosh. With the deals they gave to Bryant and Steve Nash, a bigger deal still.
Kudos to Amico for admitting this is a long shot, because it is. A long, long, long shot.
For the sake of this argument, let’s assume the Lakers actually do want Bosh. It’s not outside the realm of possibility. Pairing a floor-spacing big man like him with Kobe Brant would do wonders for the offense, especially if Steve Nash is healthy. The pass-first, drive-and-kick-loving Kendall Marshall would certainly love it. Point is, the Lakers could make a play for Bosh. They’ll have the means to create enough room if they really want him.
Bosh is in a great situation with the Heat, though. Even if they don’t win a third championship this year, they have the opportunity to win three in five seasons next year. That’s pretty damn good. And if they do win, which, by the way, is far from out of the question, he has the opportunity to win a fourth straight championship. So, you know, there’s that.
Now, if you’re looking for one member of the Big Three more likely to leave no matter what this summer, it’s clearly Bosh. Dwyane Wade isn’t going anywhere unless the Heat make it clear they don’t want him, which isn’t going to happen. The idea that James will leave this summer is overrated. The fast-dissipating idea that he would return to the Cleveland Cavaliers is just stupid at this point.
Expect James to sort of “surprise” everybody by opting into the next year of his deal. This way, he can become a free agent next summer, or even play out the life of his contract and hit the open market in 2016. That makes plenty of sense for him. His individual stock isn’t going down anytime soon, so he won’t harm his earning potential.
Bosh can do something similar. Opting in for another year allows him to be a free agent in 2015 or 2016, permitting him to sort of take his status year by year. But Bosh has also spent the better part of four years overshadowed by James and Wade. People didn’t really start to understand his value to this team until 2013-14. Signing with the Lakers–or another team, for that matter—allows him to assume a more prominent role as a No. 1 or No. 2.
After spending almost a half-decade as a No. 3, that could be something he’s interested in. Truth told, it probably is. Part of him has to miss the days where he was The Guy. Question is, does he miss it enough to leave Miami for Los Angeles or somewhere else this summer?
Go with no.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
