2010 NBA Free Agency: Is Chris Bosh a Max Deal Player?

Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo recently said he didn't think star forward Chris Bosh would be returning to the team, and the franchise was prepared to move into the future without him.

At first glance it may seem there was despair in Colangelo's words about the prospects of losing Bosh, but he actually seemed encouraged with the possibilities of a new beginning, especially since Bosh's time in Toronto hasn't accounted for much success.

Bosh's career numbers of 20.2 points per game and 9.4 rebounds suggest he is worthy of the presumed maximum contract he is about to sign, but does his game truly merit that type of money?

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are considered the cream of this year's free agency crop, but their value as players go far beyond their physical skills, as both are viewed as the types of talents capable of spearheading championship runs.

Wade and James have a reputation as players who a title team is built around, but is Bosh viewed as that same type of core talent?

In Bosh's seven-year career his Raptor teams have qualified for the postseason two times, and this past season's team, which was considered one of Toronto's more talented, failed to qualify at all.

The blame cannot be laid solely at Bosh's feet because he did average 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Wade was able to lead a less talented Miami Heat team to the playoffs while Bosh couldn't.

The Raptors' main flaw was defense, or the lack thereof, and this is also a trait found in Bosh's game, despite his wondrous skills on the offensive end of the court.

Bosh has never been a good man-to-man defender, but in order to command a maximum salary there should be few holes in a player's game, and the inability to defend is a glaring one.

This may be why most of the various free agency rumors floating around have Bosh signing with James or Wade as opposed to striking out alone.

If Bosh's goal is to win a championship, it will have to be done as the secondary attraction.

And if this is the case should Bosh's salary be in the same range of Wade's and James', considering his value as a player is not perceived to be in the same scope as either player?

This is not to take away from Bosh as a player, because the ability to average a double-double for an entire season is impressive, as is the versatility in his game.

But in the fervor over which player is going where we sometimes tend to give a player more credit than their talent actually merits, and Bosh may be an example of this instance.

There are some people who will surely disagree, but my indictment of Bosh doesn't deny he is a great talent, but it does say that free agency may have inflated his worth.

There is little doubt in my mind that Bosh can't help any team he lands with compete for a NBA championship, but history has shown he is much better suited to help than to lead.