Raps keep pick and select Bosh Canadian Press 6/26/2003 TORONTO (CP) - So much for rumours. Toronto selected forward Chris Bosh from Georgia Tech with the fourth pick at the 2002 NBA draft on Thursday, and kept him, ending days of speculation the Raptors would trade away their pick. In the end, the Raptors said choosing Bosh was easy - he was simply the best all-around athlete available when their turn came. ``When it came right down to it, he was the most athletic big man, the best runner, probably the best jumper, or second best jumper there was in the draft, one of the better shot blockers and a guy who had outside (game),'' said Raptors new head coach Kevin O'Neill. ``When you put those things together, plus our need on the front line, it made sense to draft that kid.'' Bosh's agent Henry Thomas leaned over and told him he was going No. 4 about a minute before NBA commissioner David Stern called his name, settling Bosh's nerves before he glided across the stage, dressed in a designer cream suit, at Madison Square Garden. Bosh is a fluid forward with good shot-blocking and rebounding skills, and a surprisingly polished post move for a 19-year-old. The one big question is his size - he's a lanky six foot 10, 210 pounds. ``Before training camp I want to weigh about 235, that's my goal,'' Bosh said on a conference call from New York. ``If I can't get that high, that's fine with me too.'' O'Neill said the newest Raptor has already put on some pounds since leaving college, and expects him to add another 20 or so before the season opens. O'Neill was able to work out Bosh in Toronto last week, and said he was pleasantly surprised by his strength, and how well he held his ground. ``He realizes he needs to get a little bit bigger,'' said the coach, who's just eight days into his new job. ``You shouldn't read anything into that NBA body stuff, he's a basketball player, he's a good athlete and so I think he's a guy we expect to come in here and contribute.'' The left-handed forward was a consensus pick as U.S. high school player of the year when he entered university a year ago. He's had scouts drooling over his potential, and while he may not be able to step in and contribute right away, the Raptors sorely need to develop another big man to team with Antonio Davis up front. ``He's a very talented, very versatile, very long player, that has good basketball skills, good basketball I.Q.,'' said Raptors GM Glen Grunwald. ``I think he can play inside, I think he can play outside, and I think he's a hard worker.'' Bosh was one player Raptors star Vince Carter mentioned by name after the Raptors drew the No. 4 pick on draft lottery night. ``It would be great to play alongside (Carter),'' said Bosh. ``Just him knowing of me, I'm just really excited about that. He's an NBA all-star and a great player, and if he's healthy, the sky's the limit for the Raptors.'' With the top three picks in this year's draft virtually written in ink weeks ago - as expected high school phenom LeBron James went to Cleveland No. 1, Detroit took Darko Milicic with No. 2, and Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony went third to Denver - who would go fourth has been one of the most intriguing storylines heading into the draft. There had been plenty of talk the Raptors would try to trade the No. 4 pick in hopes of getting an established player who could make a difference immediately, and Grunwald said he had numerous conversations with teams looking to better their picks. Grunwald said, in the end, teams weren't willing to part with anybody worth his while. ``Early this morning I was doing some work, getting things down on paper, and trying to think through our team and what we needed to do and I think it became apparent that at that time, I was going to make that pick,'' said Grunwald. The GM then met with his staff, and Bosh was the consensus pick. ``I definitely considered trading this pick, I thought we could move back a few spots and still accomplish the same things,'' Grunwald added. ``I thought there were a few players in this draft that could really help us, and I thought maybe we could add maybe another piece to our team. But I wasn't really interested in trading back late in the lottery or out in the lottery.'' Bosh was the leading scorer at Georgia Tech in his freshman year, averaging 15.6 points a game, rebounds (9.0 a game), and blocked shots (2.2 a game). O'Neill compared Bosh to former Raptor Keon Clark, now with the Sacramento Kings, but says he models his game around Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. ``I knew I had the chance to enter the NBA at a high pick,'' said Bosh. He'll earn about $2.4 million US next season in a guaranteed, three-year contract with a fourth option year. What his role will be remains to be seen. ``I'm sure Kevin will give him the opportunities he earns,'' said Grunwald. ``How many minutes he plays and what roles he has will be determined by how he plays.'' The Raptors also had the 52nd pick Thursday. Bosh will certainly help Toronto improve on last season, when the Raptors finished a woeful 24-58, 27th in the league.
bonner isn't that bad..he can shoot the ball well..although he doesn't have great footwork...so he will be a worry on defence
Bonner is ok he will improve the raptors a bit because he's a big man. Bosh is about 220 now so he shoul not have trouble putting 15 pounds on.
this guy should be looking to get up to 250 so he can play C. Matt Bonner will just be a 12th man in this league. News on Carl English: was not drafted, but Orlando called him to ask to come to the summer league, hope he gets a chance to be on a team.
what!! he gained 15 pounds after the season was over he said he wants to gain ten more pounds before the season which is 235 . 5 punds more than wallace and 15 more than garnett and there doing fine. I m not consurned on is weight he will gain some.
