Chris Bosh, the Toronto Raptors all-star, suggested strongly Thursday that he will forgo signing a contract extension this summer, setting himself up to be among a historically stacked NBA free agent class next year.

"(When) I signed a three-year (extension in 2006)... I had a goal in mind, and that was to put myself in the best position (in 2010) ... I'm thinking I just want to stick to my goal, stick to what I was doing," said Bosh.

"That's a part of the plan ... I just want to address things (after) next season. There's a reason why I did things the way I did them back then."

Bryan Colangelo, the Raptors president and general manager, has spoken optimistically about the odds of inking his best player to an extension this summer, when Bosh could sign a three-year addition to his current deal as early as next month. Still, Colangelo was hardly taken aback by word that Bosh was leaning strongly toward opting out of his current deal in 2010, when the 6-foot-10 forward would be among a crop of free agents that includes LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

"I have been pretty clear that that's what I anticipate his position to be," said Colangelo.

Bosh, slated to earn about $15.7 million (U.S.) next season, said leaving his contract status hanging will be a "win-win situation" for both him and his struggling team, which won just 33 games this past season.

"It puts pressure on both sides. It puts pressure on me to perform, and it puts pressure on the organization to perform as well," said Bosh, who was speaking after he performed his paid duties as the celebrity drawmaster for Saturday's Woodbine Oaks horse race.

There was some hysteria over a story or two yesterday that suggested that pending free agent Chris Bosh was finished in this town after next season.

The Raptors star played down the talk last night on The Fan.

He suggested that some people were putting words in his mouth.

"I'd say the odds are good (he would be a Raptor beyond next season)," Bosh said.

"I like it here, that's what people don't understand. I like it here ... Toronto has treated me well."

Posted by djsunyc:

There was some hysteria over a story or two yesterday that suggested that pending free agent Chris Bosh was finished in this town after next season.

The Raptors star played down the talk last night on The Fan.

He suggested that some people were putting words in his mouth.

"I'd say the odds are good (he would be a Raptor beyond next season)," Bosh said.

"I like it here, that's what people don't understand. I like it here ... Toronto has treated me well."

Posted by Cosmic:

Posted by jimimou:

Posted by djsunyc:

There was some hysteria over a story or two yesterday that suggested that pending free agent Chris Bosh was finished in this town after next season.

The Raptors star played down the talk last night on The Fan.

He suggested that some people were putting words in his mouth.

"I'd say the odds are good (he would be a Raptor beyond next season)," Bosh said.

"I like it here, that's what people don't understand. I like it here ... Toronto has treated me well."

look for bosh to have an OUTSTANDING year....

Is he high? He was getting booed terribly as the year went on. Being called out by the fans, taking shots back at the fans if I recall.

I'd say there is a very good chance he is gone this summer and an exceptional chance he signs elsewhere in 2010 if he stays this summer in TOR.

Did Toronto just re-sign their lame duck interim head coach to a 3 year extension? Come'on now. I guess it was Jerry Colangelo who was the genius in Phoenix NOT Bryan.

I agree with you. NO WAY does Bosh stay in Toronto. The question Knicks management needs to be asking is, "what do we need to be doing to get him". Toronto will have no choice but to sell short if they want to salvage anything from Bosh before he skips town