Heat Worried About Bosh's Condition As Offseason Looms
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Even though they are out of NBA games to play this season, the Miami Heat still have a big challenge looming.
The health of Chris Bosh.
Bosh's health has been an underlining factor even as the Heat got within one game of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The 32-year old was sidelined since the 2016 All-Star break because doctors discovered another blood clot in his leg and was placed on blood thinners to combat the clot. The clot in his leg came on the heels of Bosh missing the final 30 games of the 2014-15 season after blood clots were found in his lungs.
Bosh last played for the Heat on February 9th. The team finished the regular season 19-10 without him and took the No. 2 seed Toronto Raptors to seven games before bowing out – playing without Bosh and shot blocking savant Hassan Whiteside.
Now the Heat, who have a litany of other questions to answer this offseason, are growing concerned that Bosh will never be able to return to an NBA court because of the clots and his usage of blood thinners as a treatment.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst said that the Heat organization is fearing the worst.
"There is a fear within the Heat organization that Bosh's condition will prevent him from ever being cleared to play by team doctors, several sources said. It's a result of exhaustive consultations with specialists. Something this big and delicate, the sides have gone deep attempting to understand all the options. It's forced everyone to confront the possibility of Bosh ultimately being forced into a medical retirement."
Bosh – and his wife – took to social media during the Heat's opening-round series against the Charlotte Hornets seemingly to express their desire for the 11-time All-Star to return to the court. Bosh attended games during the series against the Hornets and the Raptors, sitting on the bench with the team in a suit.
After causing a small stir, the team and Bosh collaborated on a statement that confirmed that Bosh would be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
If Bosh is deemed unfit to play in the NBA again or at least isn't cleared by the Miami's medical staff – the Heat have multiple options in front of them. Bosh is still owed nearly $75 million over three years, but the team could recoup the money if he's forced into medical retirement.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was asked about Bosh's future during his postgame press conference after the team's game seven loss.
"I feel very badly for CB because I know how much this game means to him," Spoelstra said Sunday. "I think everybody knows how much CB means to me."
