Chris Bosh Fades Away

The inevitable is finally upon us. Chris Bosh has informed Bryan Colangelo that he will not re-sign with the team in 2010 when, for the first time in his career, he will be an unrestricted free agent. In very typical Toronto-Raptor-Franchise-Player fashion, he will not make it past his seventh season, much like the former franchise, Vince Carter. 

This news should not come as a shock to anyone in Toronto today with the performance of the team this season. Should it? That being said, I’m sure that this will signal the end of faith from a great majority of Raptors fans and cries for Colangelos’ head. And to them I say, why?

Trading Vince Carter was great for this franchise. He was clearly a player who had reached his limit, and it was time for him to move on. The fact that Toronto received what amounted to Joey Graham (and some cap space) in return for the former All-Star clearly wasn’t the best course of action.

That being said, Carter's heart was not in it anymore. And looking at the play of CB recently, it would suggest that he has too lost his patience with the team. This is not taking anything away from Bosh the person. Carter simply quit on his team. Bosh, I trust will do the right thing and continue to work hard for the team which he is currently employed. Everyone has had a job they didn’t like. And as long as Bosh is honoring the contract he signed, he is fine by me. 

Informing Colangelo that he will not re-sign will help the Raptors determine their best course of action now before he goes Vinsane, and decides he doesn’t want to dunk anymore, and kills his trade value.

I think Chris Bosh is a good player. I think he is a maximum value player, if only because the league lacks enough other true maximum value players. If Rashard Lewis is worth a maximum value contract, what is Chris Bosh worth? There are too many examples of this throughout the league to say that Bosh isn’t worth a maximum deal.

With Bosh now clearly on his way out of town at some point in the next year, a new era in Raptors basketball will begin. Fans must remember what Bosh is and what he has done. Chris Bosh “is what he is.” And what he is, is a gifted shooting big man. A diversely talented player at his position. What he isn’t: is a cornerstone. I’d rather someone else find out on their own dime, instead of the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan.

This is not the end.  This is just the beginning of another chapter.