Houston Rockets: Is Chris Bosh A Good Fit?
With the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks coming up as front-runners to land Carmelo Anthony and the Miami Heat‘s offseason struggles, the Houston Rockets are back on the map with yet another top free agent in sight, Chris Bosh.
After what’s been a quiet offseason focusing mostly on Carmelo Anthony’s possible destinations, the Fourth of July weekend came out with a boom (well, two actually).
- The Cleveland Cavaliers believe they’re in LeBron James‘ head.
- The Houston Rockets are taking advantage of what seems to look like trouble in paradise by ramping their pursuit for Bosh.
Chris Bosh has been open to the possibility of re-signing with the Heat once (and only if) LeBron re-signs. According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, LeBron and Bosh had a conversation this weekend that made Bosh doubt the King’s
in
decision enough to make him start looking at other offers.
Chris Bosh’s one of the most efficient power forwards in the league, he’s a defensive force and he’s an amazing rebounder. Naturally, after officially coming out to get a feel for his market value, he almost immediately started to talk with the Houston Rockets.
Chris Bosh wants to play with LeBron James in Miami, but conversations between his camp and Houston ongoing today, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2014
Then, after a few hours, he got a max offer from them.
Sources: Rockets offer Bosh max deal of 4 yrs, $96 million. After weekend convo with LeBron and low offer from Heat, Bosh considering offer
— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 7, 2014
Then, chaos ensued. Speculation about what was said in James’ and Bosh’s weekend call started to come afloat. If LeBron would’ve told Bosh he was staying, Bosh wouldn’t be “seriously considering” the Rockets’s offer.
Sources: Chris Bosh seriously considering max offer from Rockets (via @Chris_Broussard).http://t.co/9sBVA7CdYC pic.twitter.com/Jgdv8ZZMlg
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 7, 2014
All of this is hanging on James’ decision. If he stays, Bosh stays and takes a pay cut (not as big as he thinks since the Heat just used their mid-level on Josh McRoberts). If he leaves, Bosh takes his chances (and money) by joining Dwight Howard and James Harden in Houston. If Bosh were to take on the Rockets’ offer, two things come to mind:
1. How are the Rockets getting him the money?
We’ve talked about the team’s money situation before. The Rockets have $70.7 million committed for the 2014-15 season; that’s about $7 million over the projected salary cap of $63 million for said season.
The Rockets are in the process of sending Omer Asik and his $14.8 million 2014-15 season to the New Orleans Pelicans. By completing this deal the Houston Rockets’ 2014-15 committed money comes down to about $55.9 million. If Bosh’s offer was to be made good (four years, $96 million), they’d be looking at, depending on how the money plays out during those for years, about $24 million per year, leaving the Rockets about $16.9 million over the 2014-15 cap.
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The Rockets only have to take on Luis Scola‘s $6 million (he was due $11 million and the Pacers only took $4.5 million of his amnestied contract) so, unless they trade James Harden, they have to get rid of Jeremy Lin‘s $14.9 million. I’m not sure how or if they’d go after Chandler Parsons again since he’s due about $10 million-$14 million, but after trading Lin the Rockets would be +/- $2 million over the cap, which is not bad at all.
So there’s no money issue.
2. How would Chris Bosh fit in Houston?
"Houston’s natural landing spot for Bosh: Can play PF next to Dwight Howard, make $20M-plus and return to home state w/ a title contender."
Houston's natural landing spot for Bosh: Can play PF next to Dwight Howard, make $20M-plus and return to home state w/ a title contender.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 7, 2014
Woj’s right (again). By taking on Houston’s offer, Bosh would be able to not be matched up with centers all the time.
Bosh’s played as a center for the Heat since the team is all about small-ball. In Houston, Bosh would be able to go back to playing the 4, his natural position due to his size, and take on a lesser load for him.
With Bosh at 51.4 percent, Harden at 45.6 percent and Howard on the low-post, the Rockets are a nightmare.
He’ll be able to take as many jump shots as he wants (only if Harden is willing to give up some of his) and, maybe, go back to his 20-10 Toronto Raptors‘ days.
Chris Bosh is a teammate. He joined the Miami Heat and became the third banana in James’ and Wade’s world even after being a four-year alpha dog in Toronto. He also left some (a lot of) money on the table.
Entering what might be his last
big
huge deal, he’s willing to take a pay cut, but maybe not as big a pay cut as the Miami Heat
want
need him to.