Raptors Re-sign Chris Bosh
Posted July 14, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As expected, the 22-year-old 6’10” forward was signed to a contract extension worth $65 million (US) Friday. Bosh’s performance was really the only positive point for the team last season and he averaged 22.5 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.
“If I just put the contract to the side and played basketball, you know, do the things I’m supposed to do, we win, everybody’s happy,” he said.
“If you’re winning, the city is great. If you’re losing, it’s the worst city you can be in . I think if … we took care of business today, put all this to the side, and I make sure I’m in the best shape possible and best mental state possible to help this team win for the next three or four years, and we won’t have to worry about, you know, trades and unhappiness and all that stuff.”
Bosh’s contract goes into effect at the start of the 2007-08 season and is for three years plus a player option for the fourth.
The deal didn’t come as surprise as Bosh has been vocal about his love for the city and his excitement over the hiring of GM Bryan Colangelo. The Raptors have been constructing the team around Bosh, who’s been the leader since Vince Carter left to play for New Jersey in 2004.
“We’re here today talking about the future of this franchise,” Colangelo said. “This is a terrific opportunity to address making Chris Bosh the cornerstone of the foundation as we move forward building this franchise.”
Bosh has a new support system for this season as Toronto recently signed European star Anthony Parker Thursday and made a sign-and-trade deal with Philadelphia to get guard-forward John Salmons.
Charlie Villanueva was also traded to Milwaukee for point guard T.J. Ford and Rafael Araujo was traded to Utah for Kris Humphries. The Raps also acquired Slovenian centre Rasho Nesterovic from San Antonio for fan favourite Matt Bonner and disgruntled forward Eric Williams.
“Change was needed. It think we have a lot of guys who want to just want to win and are willing to bring hard work to the organization,” Bosh said.
