Miami Heat: Will Chris Bosh Play Again?
By Deasia Paige
Although the Miami Heat and Chris Bosh still have not reached a solution for his medical issues, Bosh believes he will play again.
For the second straight year, Chris Bosh has battled with blood clots that puts him in a dangerous situation on the court. Bosh was ruled out for the remainder of last season after discovering blood cots in his lungs during the All-Star break.
Though he heavily campaigned for his return, it seemed that the Miami Heat organization felt differently. As the upcoming NBA season approaches, there remains uncertainty regarding Bosh’s future.
Bosh unequivocally remains optimistic about his return. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, an NBA-employed friend says that Bosh really wants to play and thinks he should be cleared.
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However, in a press conference last week, Pat Riley said that the situation was unclear at that moment. “It’s always fluid. It has been since there was a diagnosis and a decision for him not to play during the rest of the season”, said Riley. Riley mentioned that more would be known about the 11-time All-Star’s future around August or September of this year.
Jackson also reported that Bosh’s medication is the recent issue in determining his return. Bosh reportedly wants to take new medication that will reduce the risks of blood thinners, which he is currently taking.
That new medication will be out of his system in 8-12 months, so it would eliminate any danger Bosh would have when coming into contact with players on the court. However, when Bosh presented the idea to the Heat organization they refused to comply, so it is unlikely that the team would comply this time around.
There are some things to consider in this situation. Bosh’s health is undoubtedly the most important factor in this situation. No game should be risking his life. So, the Heat organization seems to be ensuring that his health is their first priority.
However, if Bosh is capable of playing as he says he is, then there is no reason why he should not play. The financial element in this situation is what Chris Bosh’s camp believes is the Heat’s intentions in this situation.
If Chris Bosh does not play by February 2017 ( a year after he suffered his second blood clot) and his doctors agree that he cannot play anymore, the Heat can medically waive him. They could create more cap space after eliminating his $25.2 million salary for the 2017-2018 season and $26.8 million for 2018-2019 season. With Dwyane Wade and Gerald Green gone, that cap space can be used to retool their roster.
Chris Bosh’s future is unknown. If Bosh is cleared to play and he suffers another blood clot, that clock will continue to reset for the Heat to consider playing him again. The dangerous situation that the Heat seem to be trying to prevent is if Bosh takes a blow to his body that would cause bleeding.
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With that in mind, the possibility of Bosh returning to the court appears to be unlikely at this moment. If Bosh never returns to the court, the Heat would be losing another star on their roster and would need to rebuild.