Two years in row, Chris Bosh had his season cut short because of life-threatening blood clots. It goes without saying that it’s a medical condition that is potentially career-ending. Still, Bosh has been doing everything in his power to return to the court. He even feuded with Heat brass earlier this year when he proposed that he be allowed to play while taking blood thinners.
The organization, wisely, balked at that idea, and eventually the league had to step in and ultimately prevent Bosh from playing. But according to a new report, Bosh is back on the basketball court and is adamant that he will return to action next season. Via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel:
“I know I’ve been gone for a moment, but now I’m back,” Bosh said on one of his videos. “Everybody is always asking me am I hooping? Yes, I’m hooping. Absolutely. I’m a hooper.”
His situation has all sorts of ramifications for the team, and they remain reluctant to make an official decision on whether he will indeed play next season. Complicating matters further is his contract status. He’s the highest-paid player on the team, and the Heat could potentially ask the league for cap relief if he goes a full year without seeing action, which would be early next February, although Winderman doesn’t believe that scenario is very likely.
Wednesday is the deadline for Heat to "stretch" Bosh's remaining salary over seven seasons (highly unlikely) . . .
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) August 29, 2016
…But if Bosh wants to play on, even holding him out likely would not result in salary-cap relief at year anniversary of latest blood clot.
— Ira Winderman (@IraHeatBeat) August 29, 2016
Team president Pat Riley has said previously that it could be late September, near the start of training camp, before they know anything for sure about Bosh’s future.
