The L.A. Lakers are expressing interest in bringing Chris Bosh to town via the free agency market and the feelings could be mutual.
Bosh’s self-professed assurances just last month that the Big 3 of himself, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would all be returning to South Beach aside, Fansided.com reports the All-Star forward may now be considering the possibilities of joining Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in Hollywood.
There’s a possibility Bosh could opt out of his Heat deal to sign with the Lakers, who could conceivably be able to pull off such a big-ticket purchase given the fact 11 of the 15 players currently on their roster will be free agents at some point this summer.
Bosh would be immediately expected to assume more responsibility in L.A., where he would clearly be a second-string option to Bryant, as his arrival will all but assure the departure of veteran forward Pau Gasol.
While Bosh clearly seems moved by the Lakers’ purported interest, all bets are certainly off if the Heat are able to prove successful in becoming the first team in nearly two decades to earn a league three peat over the next several weeks.
An 11-year NBA veteran, Bosh averaged 16.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.0 blocks and 1.0 steals per game during the regular season. Over his career, the 30-year-old, nine-time All-Star has averaged 19.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His best season came with the Raptors in 2010-11 when he averaged 24 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists.
Since arriving in South Beach in 2010-11, the third youngest player in NBA history to register 1,000 rebounds and the fourth to record at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game has posted numbers of 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists. During his seven seasons in Toronto, Bosh snared virtually every one of the franchise’s all-time records, including most points, rebounds and blocks.
