Does it -- i.e., where LeBron James lands in free agency -- all depend on what Chris Bosh does? Maybe. According to a report from ESPN’s Chris Broussard on the Mike and Mike radio show (via SB Nation Cleveland), LeBron James wants to stay with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers -- and he wants Chris Bosh to join him.
NBA Free Agency Rumors: LeBron James Wants Chris Bosh To Join Him In Cleveland Via Sign-And-Trade
The capped out Cavs would have to work out a sign-and-trade for Bosh, but that likely wouldn’t be too big an obstacle considering the collection of assets the Raptors would likely want, including Anderson Varejao, J.J. Hickson, and some expiring contracts/draft picks. Indeed, Broussard reports that the Raptors have told the Cavs that they would be willing to do a sign-and-trade with Cleveland for Bosh. The only question is whether Bosh would acquiesce to go to Cleveland.
Throughout the convoluted melodrama that is the Summer of 2010 free agency, sources have maintained Bosh has two priorities: getting the extra $30 million on his contract from doing a sign-and-trade, and playing with LeBron James, just not in Cleveland. Bosh apparently wants to “build his brand” in a big market and has so far refused overtures to go to Cleveland. As ESPN’s Chad Ford explains:
Of course, Bosh could very well end up deciding that teaming with Dwyane Wade in Miami is preferable to pairing with LeBron James in Cleveland, as Mikhail Prokhorov expects. Then all bets would be off for where the putative Global Icon will end up.
For more on the Cavs and Raptors, check out Fear The Sword and Raptors HQ.
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