Chris Bosh: No, He's Not Leaving the Raptors!

Through the first two months of the season, there was constant speculation that Chris Bosh was on his way out of Toronto.  Speculation that ran rampant, despite Bryan Colangelo's statements that he intended to re-sign Chris at the end of this season.

But the rumours persisted. 

Authors wrote that Bosh would not want to remain in the oft-ignored, frozen wasteland north of the U.S. border, that all players had become frustrated with the hardships of U.S. Customs, and, of course, that Bosh was on his way south to join up with James, Wade, Howard, or Bryant to form the next NBA dynasty.

Of course, these rumors largely ignored logic. 

Chris Bosh is part of the class of free agents who are expected to be offered maximum contracts by their current team—contracts worth at least $30 million more than any other suitor is in a position to offer.

The logical expectation should have always been that Chris Bosh is not going anywhere!

In a recent interview with Michael Grange of The Globe and Mail, both Bosh and Bryan Colangelo confirmed the obvious.

When Bosh was asked if he expected to be traded, "I doubt it."

Asked if he wanted to be dealt, "No, no, no, no."

When Bryan Colangelo was asked about his intentions with Bosh, “I have no intention to move him, and have absolutely every intention to keep him long term.”

When Colangelo was asked if the Raptors owners, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), were willing to become a luxury tax-paying team, he replied, "They want to win and they're committed."

MLSE was a tax-paying team in the years after the Raptors had their first playoff run with Vince Carter.  The Raptors were willing to pay whatever it took to keep that team together and bring in more talent.  Just because that didn't work out as planned is no reason to believe the owners won't do it again now.

For all those who believed Bosh was going to be traded because the Raptors just were not a good enough team this season, try to remember the 2006-07 Raptors that brought in nine new players and were 22-22 in January after a rough 7-13 start, just like the current team.

Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors management believed that these Raptors could win 50 games!  This season's roster changes were eerily similar to the changes made by Colangelo in 2006-07, which leads some to believe that the Raptors will bounce back for a 47-win season again.

If one looks around at the major basketball sites now, the rumors of Bosh leaving are drying up as quickly as the Raptors' scores in games.  Media are now focused on players like Amare Stoudemire, Andre Iguodala, and Caron Butler.

One can safely believe Bosh will still be with the Raptors in April and will likely still be with the team for many years to come.