Brian Windhorst’s latest column at ESPN.com focuses primarily on LeBron James‘ possible options as he approaches potential free agency in 2014, but the piece includes an interesting tidbit about one of LeBron’s teammates as well. According to Windhorst, league executives expect the Mavericks to target Chris Bosh in free agency next summer.
As I noted yesterday, the Mavs only have about $25MM in guaranteed salary committed to their books for 2014/15. That doesn’t include cap holds for Dirk Nowitzki and other free-agents-to-be like Shawn Marion and Vince Carter, but nonetheless, the team should have the flexibility to re-sign Dirk and add another impact free agent.
Some cap maneuvering could put the Mavs in position to be a player in the LeBron sweepstakes, but Bosh, a Dallas native, appears to be the team’s more likely target in the eyes of rival execs. Like James, Bosh will have the chance to opt out of his deal in 2014, though he’s not a lock to do so. Whereas LeBron would undoubtedly receive a new long-term, maximum-salary contract in free agency, there’s no guarantee Bosh would receive the same kind of offers.
Bosh, who will turn 30 later this season, is averaging just 15.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 13 contests this season, the lowest averages since his rookie year. The Georgia Tech product remains an efficient scorer and a productive big man, but he may ultimately be better off playing out his contract with the Heat, which would pay him $20.59MM in 2014/15 and $22.11MM in 2015/16. The 29-year-old also indicated earlier this year that he’d like to spend the rest of his career in Miami.
This would be an extremely disappointing pickup.