I'll preface this by saying that what I'm proposing is going to sound crazy. Also, it's Friday and I do not have the desire to do the math, so I apologize for that.

The Wizards are ever so quietly angling themselves to make a major push for Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh.

Major names in the league are going to be hitting the market in the summer of 2011. The Nets aren't hiding the fact that would love to build their team around LeBron. The love the idea so much, in fact, that they are willing to build their team around him now despite the fact that he does not play for the Nets.

Could it be possible that teams are posturing for the other big names as well...years before they hit the market? Take...say...the Washington Wizards for example. Here are some numbers that come off the books that year.

1. Etan Thomas - $6,373,900
2. Deshawn Stevenson - $3,348,215
3. Antonio Daniels - $5,800,000
4. Brendan Haywood - $5,000,000
5. Dominic McGuire - $427,16

That is going to free up around $20 million.

Here is why this scenario is possible...

• Nobody really wants to play in Canada. What a terrible market for a superstar to be in. Bosh has already proven that he is willing to go to great lengths to get some bigger lights shining on him. If anyone thinks he is staying in Toronto longer than he has to is kidding themselves. He signed his courtesy contract just like LeBron and D-Wade. The Heat just drafted a franchise player and are most definitely on the upswing. Bosh is similar to LeBron in that...
• His team is probably not going to get much better. I don't see Jermaine O'Neal catapulting this team into contention. My guess is that he, and the next couple Raptors seasons, will be more of the same.  They will become the Wizards of the North...putting together a string of first round exits. Bosh sacrificed his long term security to see how this team developed over a three year period. When that three year period comes to an end, they should have about the same quality of team, with no real sign of legitimately contending in the Celtic dominated East. Why on Earth would he stay in Toronto?
  
• Let's just assume that Arenas and Jamison both resign.  Sit Arenas down this summer and call his bluff. See exactly how much he is willing to take off of his max contract to keep AJ. Sign Gil and then overpay AJ (just a bit) to ensure that he stays. A 3 year contract would be ideal. That means we can run with essentially the same team for the next three years. This team healthy, to me, has a great deal of potential. If we have our hearts set on Bosh, what would it hurt to give this team a legitimate (healthy) shot at it for the next couple of years.
• Don't rule out a trade. In two years, I envision Jamison's numbers being almost identical to this season. He will be a high character, veteran, double-double machine with an expiring contract. Of course, 7'0 athletic, young, big men are hard to find so the best case scenario for Toronto is to get one in return. Fortunately, the Wizards will have two - Jevale McGee and Andray Blatche. Jamison (and his expiring contract), McGee/Blatche, and draft picks. Heck, I'd give you Blatche and McGee in that deal for Chris Bosh. Find a team that can offer more.
• Fear the Celtics. I am sold on this team being at the top of the East for the next few years barring another ridiculous trade. The three headed monster is the next big trend in professional basketball. I envision teams attempting to mirror the Celtics for the next few seasons. Now put yourself in Chris Bosh's size 13 shoes for a minute, you have a big decision to make. Do you believe that Calderon and O'Neal/Bargnani (in CANADA) gives you a better chance at a title than Arenas/Butler (in the NATIONS CAPITAL)? I apologize for offending any Canadians...all I know about Canada is what South Park tells me.
  
• "Anything is possible!!!" - especially with the Wizards. Why? Because our GM keeps his mouth shut. The Wizards beat reporter has to be the most frustrating job on the planet. Props to Ivan Carter for doing what he does. Anyone who tries to predict what EG will do is crazy. If he is trying to get in position to be a major player for Bosh, we won't know until it happens.
• Which statement do you believe more?
  

A) The Wizards can win a championship with this current team.

B) The Wizards will never get over the hump without a legitimate low-post scorer and defender.

Beyond the injuries...this is THE dilemma for the Wizards. To tell the truth, I am right at 50/50 on this one. In my mind, there is no other place to be at this moment. "I mean, before the injuries hit, we were in first place." How many times have you heard this one? The problem is that it's true. Yes we were in first place, and yes that was Eddie Jordan coaching the all-star game. So, at the very least, it's conceivable that we could mask this deficiency by scoring 120 points a game and end up at the top of the East at season's end.

The only problem is you don't win the championship by being in first place after the regular season. The other problem is that not many teams win a championship with out a dominant low-post player. Not a "power forward" who gives you 20-10 every night, but a dominant low-post player on both ends. I pose another question...

Replace Kevin Garnett with Antawn Jamison. Does Boston still win the title?

I doubt it... but I'd be surprised if they didn't have the best record in the East.

Last nights draft was disappointing just because there were so many other players on the board that I would have liked to have. I am furious that Mario Chalmers fell to the second round and will be suiting up for Miami...who just drafted Michael Beasley.  Picking McGee only feeds my frustration with this team because I am right at 50/50 on whether he will be any good. With so much uncertainty on this team, it would have been nice to get a decent player whose production on this team would have been predictable.

I suggest to you that your frustration with this pick may be a factor of the current situation of the team, not so much with the actual player taken. For me, I will appease my frustration with visions of grandeur such as the one above.