Dec. 7, 2005. 01:28 PM
JIM BYERS
SPORTS REPORTER


The Los Angeles Lakers may be casting an eye on the Toronto Raptors top star.

In a comment that will surely raise eyebrows in the Raptors' front office, Lakers' coach Phil Jackson today suggested Chris Bosh is a guy who would look good in Hollywood.

Speaking to reporters after the Lakers' shootaround to prepare for tonight's game against the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre, the veteran coach said his team hopes to create room under the salary cap "which will allow us to get into the free agent market soon and chase some talent again that would make this team really competitive."

Asked by the Star about any free agent wish list he might have, Jackson plunged right ahead.

"Well ... the players that were franchise-changing players you know re-signed up or re-upped with their organizations. There are some that will be available in the year following that you obviously have to take a look at, and this kid here is one of them. Chris Bosh obviously everybody's going to be interested in and we think he's become quite a talent."

Bosh can't desert the Toronto ship until the end of next season, and he's refused to talk about his future except to suggest he'll keep an open mind and see how the Raptors are developing.

Since Jackson didn't baldly state he was going after Bosh, it's unlikely he'll be in violation of anti-tampering rules. Still, it's not likely to sit well with a Toronto organization that needs to keep Bosh in purple and red if the team is to become a playoff contender down the road.



TRADE:


(I know its big, but it makes sense for everyone involved IMO.

New York Trade Breakdown

Outgoing

Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.3 apg in 38.4 minutes

Trevor Ariza
6-8 SF from UCLA
5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 17.3 minutes

Jackie Butler
6-10 PF from Coastal Christian Academy (HS)
3.3 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 0.0 apg in 1.7 minutes

Maurice Taylor
6-9 PF from Michigan
7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg in 23.8 minutes

Anfernee Hardaway
6-7 SG from Memphis
7.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg in 24.2 minutes


Incoming

Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.3 minutes

Jalen Rose
6-8 SG from Michigan
18.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg in 33.5 minutes

Alvin Williams
6-5 from Villanova
No games yet played in 2004/05

Change in team outlook: -8.2 ppg, +1.0 rpg, and -2.5 apg.


L.A. Lakers Trade Breakdown

Outgoing

Lamar Odom
6-10 PF from Rhode Island
15.2 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.3 minutes

Kwame Brown
6-11 PF from Glynn Academy (HS)
7.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.9 apg in 21.6 minutes

Incoming

Jamal Crawford
6-5 SG from Michigan
17.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.3 apg in 38.4 minutes

Maurice Taylor
6-9 PF from Michigan
7.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg in 23.8 minutes

Chris Bosh
6-10 PF from Georgia Tech
16.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.9 apg in 37.2 minutes

Change in team outlook: +20.1 ppg, +1.0 rpg, and +3.0 apg.


Toronto Trade Breakdown

Outgoing

Jalen Rose
6-8 SG from Michigan
18.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 2.6 apg in 33.5 minutes

Alvin Williams
6-5 from Villanova
No games yet played in 2004/05

Chris Bosh
6-10 PF from Georgia Tech
16.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.9 apg in 37.2 minutes

Incoming

Trevor Ariza
6-8 SF from UCLA
5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.1 apg in 17.3 minutes

Jackie Butler
6-10 PF from Coastal Christian Academy (HS)
3.3 ppg, 0.0 rpg, 0.0 apg in 1.7 minutes

Anfernee Hardaway
6-7 SG from Memphis
7.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg in 24.2 minutes

Kwame Brown
6-11 PF from Glynn Academy (HS)
7.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0.9 apg in 21.6 minutes

Change in team outlook: -11.9 ppg, -2.0 rpg, and -0.5 apg

Well. Get 'er duuun!

If the Raptors think they'll lose Bosh, they'll trade him in the middle of next season. At this point, they're still in the belief that they can keep him if they do everything they can to satisfy him. I live near TO and listen to their GM and TO writers often. It would take a truly astonishing offer for them to trade Bosh.

I want Bosh for us.

BTW, if I were Bosh, Kobe is the kind of player I'd make sure I avoided playing with. I'd look to join up with Lebron or Wade.

I want Bosh.

Posted by PhilinLA:

I'm not trading Crawdaddy.

I'd rather trade Marbury. They seem to play better without him at the point.

I want to see this team gel. I only want to trade expiring deals and guys like Taylor and Malik. The young guys stay.

that's why the Jays have been bleeding attendance and money since the baseball strike.

...and you are talking NBA prime market right?