<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Bosh can gamble all he wants in Las Vegas this summer, as long as he doesn't take bets with his health. That was the message from Raptors coach Sam Mitchell yesterday. Mitchell said he does not want his all-star forward playing for Team USA at the FIBA Americas championships in Vegas this August if his left heel is sore, even if Bosh already has committed to the national team. Look, I would never tell a guy not to play for his country, that's a huge honour," said Mitchell, who acted as draw master yesterday for the $500,000 Labatt Woodbine Oaks on Sunday. "But you also have to be smart about it." The Raptors were not impressed last fall when Bosh showed up at training camp with a case of plantar fasciitis in his left heel after playing for the American team at the world championship in Japan. They were even less thrilled that the problem plagued him for most of the season. What they don't want is a similar scenario at camp this fall and unless Bosh can prove his heel is 100%, the Raptors will discourage him from playing at the FIBA event -- despite the fact that it is the first qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bosh, his agent Henry Thomas and Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo will make the final decision as to whether Bosh plays for Team USA in Vegas, but, Mitchell said, the bottom line is that Bosh "has to do the right thing" and be "up front and totally honest" with the Raptors about his injury. "The last time I checked, we're paying the salaries," said Mitchell, adding that the plantar fasciitis limited Bosh's practice time last season. "He has to be healthy enough to get on the floor to improve his game. As good as he was, we think he can be better. "Chris is a huge part of what we're trying to do and we need him healthy. "And it's important that he gets the chance to keep improving. Chris is only 23 years old. He is not where he needs to be yet, and you're only going to get there through repetition of practice and playing." </div> <div align="center">Source: Toronto Sun</div>
There was also a little thing about the draft at the end: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Mitchell, who attended last week's pre-draft camp in Orlando, added the Raptors may attempt to acquire a second-round pick for this summer's NBA draft. As is stands, the Raptors do not have a pick in the draft. </div>
I hope they do get a pick. They need one. One the Bosh thing, I say he dosn't go. With the team on the rise, and his heel is sore, he should stay and relax because the Raptors need him, and if he injurys it again, we can be in some serious trouble. I think though, he will play for Team USA, because it is such an honour, but if he dosn't at least Oden gets some more time along with Durant.
<div class="quote_poster">Ford_11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I hope they do get a pick. They need one.</div> if they 'need' a pick it would be a first round pick they need, not a second round pick, which is slim of getting because this draft is relatively deep.
With the cap considerations that are out there i think it's more likely now that you get a late first round pick than an early 2nd. Late first means gauranteed money, so unless you have a sure thing teams don't like that idea. 2nd round picks can be relatively valuable because you can get your prospect, but cut him loose if he doesn't work out.
<div class="quote_poster">whitehops_raps Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> if they 'need' a pick it would be a first round pick they need, not a second round pick, which is slim of getting because this draft is relatively deep.</div> I just said they need a pick. Not which round it is. I want a first rounder, but it might not happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Ford_11 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> I just said they need a pick. Not which round it is. I want a first rounder, but it might not happen.</div> it will not happen because the draft is deep .
Never say never. I gaurantee you that at least 5 picks in the first round will be shopped. Teams have salary cap and chemistry situations to think about outside of simply just drafting talent. There are a number of canidates to shop picks: -I'd have a hard time believing that Phily will hold onto all three of their picks. -Is atl. really going to want the #14 spot with the number of young talented guys they have on their roster already? -Are teams like the Bobcats and the Pistons really going to hold onto all their draft choices considering they have key FA's to resign? Even in the 2003 draft, for every guy named Diaw and Barbosa late in the round there were others who aren't even in the NBA right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-Is atl. really going to want the #14 spot with the number of young talented guys they have on their roster already?</div> If they don't draft Conley with the 3rd pick, they will probably take Brandan Wright or Al Horford. Then with their other first round pick (#11 BTW, not 14), they could draft Mike Conley, Javaris Crittenten, or Acie Law. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">-Are teams like the Bobcats and the Pistons really going to hold onto all their draft choices considering they have key FA's to resign?</div> Charlotte has a lot of cap room. They will still probably draft a couple of players and re-sign their key FA's like Wallace, Okafor, and Carroll.
