Anytime Peter Vescey of the New York Post floats a trade rumour, you should take it with a grain of salt. His suggestion that the Lakers might be in talks with the Raptors for a deal in which Chris Bosh and Andrew Bynum would be the main pieces should be treated no differently.
But unlike most of the Bosh trade rumours circulating lately, this one is intriguing because it actually brings a potential star player in return. It’s not normally my style to break down these rumours, but this one is juicy enough and has enough people talking that I might as well give my take.
Understandably, most Raptors fans are against this proposed deal. Bosh is unquestionably a more talented player than Bynum, he’s the face of the franchise, and he’s having a career-best season at the still-young age of 25 with 24 points, 11.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game and a 26.5 Player Efficiency Rating (PER) that ranks him third in the NBA behind LeBron James and Tim Duncan. There should be little doubt that this trade would be a short-term downgrade for the Raptors.
And yet, if I was the Raptors GM, I think I would have to pull the trigger on this deal. As much as we’d like to think that Bosh is a lock to re-sign with the Raptors after this season, there is no way we can be sure and there is also a very slim chance the Raptors would get a better deal than this in a sign-and-trade. Aside from that, I think Bynum could be exactly the player this team needs to become a more complete team.
Swapping Bosh for Bynum would mean that Bargnani could slide over to his natural power forward position and he would most likely become a 20 PPG player from the extra touches he would get. Plus, I believe there would be a substantial improvement to the Raptors’ team defence as a result of having a legitimate lane intimidator at the five. Bynum has both the size (seven feet, 285 pounds) and the quickness to guard any NBA center, and you can make a strong case that the 22-year-old is already the third-best center in the league (behind Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan) and is probably a couple of seasons away from being a top-two center. If you believe that center is a more important position than power forward — and I do — then is having a top-two center really a downgrade from having the best power forward?
Bynum’s age also merits consideration in this comparison. Bynum is three-and-a-half years younger than Bosh, which means he has more potential for future improvement. As impressed as I am with the way Bosh has raised his game to a new level this season, we can’t ignore the fact that it’s a contract year and I strongly believe that we’re seeing Bosh’s ceiling — or something very close to it — this season. With improved maturity and conditioning, Bynum’s 15.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 1.6 BPG could likely raise to 20/10/2 averages in a couple of years. And that’s on top of his impact on the Raptors’ team defence, which is currently dead last in the NBA with 113.1 points allowed per 100 possessions.
Then there’s the matter of Bynum’s contract. He’ll make $44.7 million over the remaining three years of his current deal. If he stays healthy, that’s a pretty damn good value for one of the three best centers in the league. Bosh, as we all know, is going to sign a max deal somewhere that will pay him significantly more than that. The difference between those two contracts could enable the Raptors to acquire an additional useful player — probably in the 2011 off-season when they are next likely to have cap space.
That pretty much sums up my case for this trade benefitting the Raptors. It might seem pretty straightforward why the Lakers would want to do this. Chris Bosh is arguably a top 10 player, he’d be a phenomenal second option in the Lakers offence, and the Lakers are in “win now mode” so they’re much more interested in how good a player is now rather than how could he might be in a couple of years. I don’t doubt that most people believe that swapping Bynum for Bosh on that team would make them an unstoppable juggernaut for the next few seasons.
Is it really that simple? I don’t think so. The burning question that I don’t like the answer to if I’m the Lakers’ GM is: Am I comfortable with Pau Gasol as my center? There’s no question that a Bosh-Gasol frontline would be absolutely deadly offensively. But the problem is that neither of them are classic post players on offence and neither of them are built to handle bigger centers on defence. While the team offence would certainly improve, I think there’s a strong possibility that the team defence might decline even more.
I know I’m in the minority when I say that I think this trade would benefit the Raptors more than the Lakers. Most Raptors fans seem appalled by this rumor, Lakers fans seem thrilled by it, and on his latest podcast with Chad Ford, NBA junkie and Celtics fan Bill Simmons was terrified that this trade could make the Lakers completely unstoppable. So how can I justify claiming that I’d do this trade if I was the Raptors’ GM but not if I was the Lakers’ GM?
I guess I can’t understand why the defending champions with the best record in the NBA would want to mess with what’s already working. Bosh might make them even better, but he might, through no fault of his own, screw up their winning dynamic. As for the Raptors, they’re one game under .500 and unlikely to escape from mediocrity anytime soon with this core. This is the kind of bold move that could pay huge dividends in the long run. And I’d rather take a chance on that then settle for 45-win seasons and first-round playoff exits year after year.
Follow “Nothing Easy” on Twitter @Nothing_Easy.
01.14.10
@ 6:33 PM EST
Agreed Scott. This will probably open Bargs up to be the PF that he’s supposed to be. Not two mention we’ll have two legit lane intimidators with Bargs and Bynum.
01.14.10
@ 7:08 PM EST
I like Bosh in Toronto but I have to say, you make a convincing argument–bold action could make something happen for the Raptors. Too bad it’s not going to happen. Colangelo would just get eaten alive for that move, since Toronto is too in love with Bosh and will wait for him to break its heart. No, it’s going to be the long goodbye…
01.14.10
@ 7:46 PM EST
I would love this deal for the Raptors as well… and most of all it improves our DEFENSE! For Bynum to average 15 points on a team with Artest, Kobe, Odom, Gasol is pretty amazing and I think if he can come to Toronto, he would definitely be getting 20 points and 10 boards. He would be pretty similar to Howard, a big guy that just continues to play low post, grab rebounds, and block shots. Although he is not as athethic but their skills are similar and how many centers are in this league that are this elite? Meaning, how many centers out there can score, rebound and play defensively that well? Not many…
Bosh isn’t going to sign with us so let’s trade him.
01.14.10
@ 8:12 PM EST
You know, I’ve read a lot about these trade rumors. And a lot of people are pointing out the fact that Bosh wants to come to America for the limelight.
Bosh has clearly stated he loves Toronto. But my question (for anyone we acquire) is: would that player want to stay + play in Toronto in the long run? If not… Bosh is as good as it gets for this franchise. He’s a superstar player that loves the city.
If we go for someone who can play, but doesn’t want to play here, then we aren’t gaining anything.
Intangibles are things we all need to consider, not everything is on paper.
01.14.10
@ 9:04 PM EST
talk about basket not rumors USELESS the are all fake. WAKE UP for once and forget the bullshit
01.15.10
@ 12:05 AM EST
The trade would be great for the Raptors…
It would spark Turkoglu to be the player he as in Orlando.
Why you ask?
The Similarities between Orlando’s starting frontcourt and the Raptors frontcourt with Bynum are very similar
You have Turkoglu, a stretch PF (Bargnani & Rashard) and a Traditional Back to the basket center that DEMANDS a double team.
Where as Dwight has no offensive moves to speak of, Bynum has a solid back to the basket game with moves and counter moves.
Turkoglu would be forced to take on more of a load without Bosh and I believe he’d flourish the same way he did when he was with the Magic
01.15.10
@ 1:17 AM EST
Trade the fucker, will not sign back with Toronto, cut the tumor before it kills you right?
01.15.10
@ 3:25 AM EST
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Scott Carefoot, Kenric, Toronto Raptors Buzz, James Herbert, Nothing Easy and others. Nothing Easy said: Why a Bynum-Bosh trade doesn’t make sense… for the Lakers http://bit.ly/6IVPS2 [...]
01.15.10
@ 5:50 AM EST
I would trade Bosh for Bynum. We would send a weak defender for a better one. I think people in Toronto have to be realistic. Bosh gets great stats but you cannot build a team around him. He is more like a Zach Randolph type of player. Great stats but no team result.
Gary Payton said it best. Bosh is the most over rated player in the NBA. He would be the perfect third banana behind Kobe and Gasol in L.A.
01.15.10
@ 5:52 AM EST
Even if Bosh wanted to sign with Toronto, I would still make the trade.
The team would be better.
01.15.10
@ 9:57 AM EST
Nice post. You convinced me. I think alot of people arent as worried that Bosh will leave with Bargs there I think Bargs takes a back seat to Bosh some times and he would elivate his game if Bosh were traded
01.15.10
@ 10:23 AM EST
[...] Why a Bynum-Bosh trade doesn’t make sense… for the Lakers | TheScore.com I know I’m in the minority when I say that I think this trade would benefit the Raptors more than the Lakers. Most Raptors fans seem appalled by this rumor, Lakers fans seem thrilled by it, and on his latest podcast with Chad Ford, NBA junkie and Celtics fan Bill Simmons was terrified that this trade could make the Lakers completely unstoppable. So how can I justify claiming that I’d do this trade if I was the Raptors’ GM but not if I was the Lakers’ GM? [...]
01.15.10
@ 10:43 AM EST
You’ve convinced me too. WHY does Toronto need firepower? We don’t!
Hedo, Jose, Belinelli, and Turk can get way better chances around the arc without Bosh. Bargnani will destroy other PF’s. A big like Bynum in the lane is great for dumping off a pass after dribble penetration. This trade ONLY makes sense.
I like Bosh, but he does not have that “killer instinct” that wills his team to wins. Give us a big body and some D.
01.15.10
@ 10:44 AM EST
Bynum is overrated and hurt continually in his career even though he’s a young guy.
Once you trade Bosh the team goes down hill cause there is NO player on this team drawing a double team everytime they touch the ball like Bosh does.
Why not develop what you have? We worry too much about Bosh leaving even though he’s been the consumate professional every year. He will re-up for us with the max and then we either keep him and try to build around him and Barg’s or then trade him to another team but receive more value because of his increased salary.
Do you think Colangelo would have trouble moving Bosh’s max contract a year or two from now?
If it’s necessary, I don’t think so.
01.15.10
@ 11:53 AM EST
Unfortunately Matt Devlin will still get to keep his “Killer B’s” moniker for our bigs :P
01.15.10
@ 1:34 PM EST
kelsie: I think Bynum has the potential to be the kind of guy who commands double-teams. You think opposing teams wouldn’t double-team a 285-pound player who can score 20 points per game?
01.21.10
@ 3:15 AM EST
ah at last, I could find this article once more. You have few useful tips for my school project. Now, I won’t forget to bookmark it. :)
01.27.10
@ 12:39 PM EST
I just can’t see the Lakers doing this. Bynum’s size and toughness makes up for Gasol’s soft play and moving Gasol to center where he isn’t entirely comfortable might help the Laker’s run away from the West, but it does not improve their strength and toughness for the playoffs – Denver, Cleveland, Boston, Orlando would all have an advantage.