We wrote on a report late last night by Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher that a source told him Kyle Lowry could be signed-and-traded to the Miami Heat and Chris Bosh might return to the Toronto Raptors as a free agent. In the interim, Bucher has learned that he was misinformed and neither scenario has been discussed.
Bucher’s original tweets on the Lowry/Bosh story are below.
Source: Toronto looking to S&T Kyle Lowry to Miami for cash and future picks. Part II: Bosh opts out, returns to Toronto.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 27, 2014
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Now hearing that Norris Cole would also be part of the Lowry-to-Miami deal.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 27, 2014
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Lowry to Mia makes sense if it opens door to Melo. Big 3 becomes a younger, more athletic Big 4 (Lowry/Wade/LBJ/Melo). Instant EC favorite.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 27, 2014
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These are his remarks from earlier today upon learning he was misled by a source.
My deepest and sincere apologies. My report on Lowry and a S&T between the Raptors-Heat is wrong. I should've known better. I could not…
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 27, 2014
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…be more embarrassed. I can't explain why someone would go the lengths "my source" did to set me up, but that's irrelevant. I allowed…
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 28, 2014
my zeal to break a story take too much for granted. I'd like to think I'm better than that. Yesterday and today I was not.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) June 28, 2014
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A crucial part of a reporter’s job is to develop and utilize trustworthy, reliable sources. Doing so is one of the reasons that Bucher has been covering the NBA at major outlets for more than two decades. So while he deserves consternation for dispatching information – and in this case, headline-worthy intel – that ultimately proved inaccurate, Bucher should receive even more praise for showing such contrition in admitting his mistake.
The easy route for Bucher would have been keeping quiet as the offseason progressed and his original report was disproved. NBA writers publish rumors that turn out to be wrong almost as often as they do rumors that turn out to be right. How often do those in the former, unenviable position ever show remorse for being led astray? Let alone admit it?
It’s a low, low number, and the main reason why Bucher is getting some heat from the public right now. But that’s the price of taking the less traveled, honorable path, and Bucher warrants credit for doing so.
Now, what does this mean for basketball?
Lowry is a free agent and will be too expensive for the Heat to sign unless Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade agree to major pay-cuts. Though Miami’s Big Three has discussed taking discounts to improve the roster surrounding them, it’s hard to believe they could be enough to add a player of Lowry’s assumed price tag. Without a sign-and-trade, basically, it’s unlikely Lowry will be playing in South Beach next season.
As for Bosh leaving the Heat for the Raptors, that always seemed a dubious proposition. Toronto surely hasn’t endeared itself to Bosh when Miami has traveled to play there the past few seasons, and the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are more realistic destinations if he will indeed part with the Heat. Like LeBron, though, at this point it seems most likely Bosh will return to Miami.
And the offseason continues chugging along. Free agency begins on July 1st. Things will only get crazier from here.
What do you think?
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