link: http://www.***************/Story.asp?story_id=16126 By Bill Ingram The Houston Rockets are going to be major players in free agency this summer, and they expect to be actively engaged in the trade market, too. They've made no secret of the fact that Chris Bosh is their number one target, and rumors are swirling about potential deals that might be struck between Houston and Toronto that would land Bosh in Clutch City. HOOPSWORLD is involved in conversations with parties on every side of this issue, and while we've reported much of what we know in difference articles, let's put it all in one place. First, the Rockets are willing to trade whoever they need to trade to make Bosh a member of the team. They would prefer to keep Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin, but if one of those guys has to go to make a deal happen, they'll be gone. Second, Bosh wants to win a championship. His first choice is to do that in Toronto, but if the Raptors can't add a significant piece to the mix he'll seek his rings elsewhere. He doesn't want to be traded to a team that would have to give up all of their pieces to get him, and Houston is one of the few teams that can put together a solid package for the Raptors and still have a championship-caliber team in place with Bosh. Third, in Kevin Martin and Jordan Hill the Rockets have two players in whom the Raptors have shown a great deal of interest over the last few months. It's been suggested that the Raptors would take a package that included Hill, Trevor Ariza, David Anderson, maybe Kyle Lowry ... but let's be clear about something. The Raptors already tried trading a franchise player for scraps when they sent Vince Carter to the Nets for an over-the-hill Alonzo Mourning, Eric Williams and Aaron Williams. You'll notice that everyone involved in that decision has long since been fired. As my friend and partner Steve Kyler put it, a similar trade for Bosh would likely have the Toronto fan base burning season tickets in the parking lot. Add Aaron Brooks to the conversation and now, perhaps, you can get the fan base to buy in. The Rockets would rather move Brooks than Scola, especially since we all know GM Darrell Morey would probably miracle up another young PG to replace Brooks. For that matter they could make a run at Raymond Felton, who may not be a top tier playmaker, but would be just fine in a lineup with Martin, Bosh, Yao Ming and Shane Battier. They might also consider starting Kyle Lowry, though he seems to be more of a second unit spark plug kind of guy than a starting playmaker. Another reason the Rockets prefer to move anyone other than Scola is that they know a healthy Yao Ming is a best-case scenario. If Yao goes down again they don't want to waste another season talking about that golden year when Yao Ming is healthy and leads them to a championship. They want to be able to slide Bosh over to the five, start Scola at the four and keep right on winning basketball games. At the end of the day, the Rockets have something Toronto doesn't have: a lineup that might just be Chris Bosh away from a championship. They also have the ability to send the Raptors the point guard of the future that they've been missing and a solid cast of other players who make them better right away. Add a couple of very high first round picks from the Knicks and there might be a deal here. Bosh's first choice is to stay in Toronto, and if he decides that's not going to work out there will be plenty of teams trying to put together deals to acquire him from the Raptors. Rest assured, though, that if the Raptors decide to deal, Houston will be right in the thick of the negotiations.
Fixed. Playing for canada would imply that they're on the Canadien team for FIBA and the olympics, but anyway I think that's part of it. The whole idea of higher taxes and being in a foreign country scares some people.
This guy's nuts, he practically wants us to get rid of our major players for Bosh; Martin, Brooks, Scola, picks and Jordan Hill all thrown in is pure bs. *SMH*
It's not THAT much of a cultural shock. Canada isn't so different of the USA especially Toronto. Maybe it is for someone from Texas though, but surely not for someone from the East or North.
I know that, I didn't saying he wasn't. The poster I quoted said Bosh played for Canada, I said no he plays in canada, because playing for canada would mean he is on their fiba/olympic team which you correct stated, is incorrect, bosh is on our olympic team
