Heat Rumors

7:13pm: Heat owner Micky Arison added some intrigue to the Bosh situation this evening with a tweet that read “Looking good CB look forward to seeing in camp.” Arison was responding to the workout videos that Bosh posted online. This is the clearest indication from the team that it expects Bosh to play this season.

6:00pm: The NBA could get involved in any agreement between Chris Bosh and the Heat, reports Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel.

After having his last two seasons cut short by blood clots, the veteran power forward wants to be cleared to play this season, but the Heat remain concerned about his medical status. Bosh is becoming increasingly frustrated by the organization’s refusal to grant him medical clearance and has started a social media campaign to pressure the team into action. Bosh posted videos of recent workouts and a photo of him working out with former Miami star Dwyane Wade.

The Heat have raised objections about Bosh playing while taking blood thinners or possibly abandoning the medication in an effort to return. There was a possibility that he might take the disagreement to the players’ union during last season’s playoffs, but he and the team reached an agreement to hold off any action.

Multiple sources have told Winderman that they expect league representatives to become part of any resolution between the parties. The Heat training camp opens September 27th, and players must pass physicals before they can participate.

It has been widely reported that the Heat can remove Bosh’s future salary from their cap for medical reasons if he goes a year without appearing in a game, which in his case would happen on February 9th. But the rules may be less restrictive than originally thought, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

He cites Section VII (4) (h) (1) of the labor agreement, which would permit the Heat to exclude Bosh’s salary starting next summer if he plays in fewer than 10 games and has a career-ending incident. Preseason games wouldn’t count toward that total, but playoff games would. Bosh is owed more than $23.7MM this season, nearly $25.3MM in 2017/18 and more than $26.8MM in 2018/19.

Chris Bosh‘s camp is frustrated with the Heat’s handling of his current situation, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. As Jackson writes, that frustration is one reason why Bosh has gone on a “social media blitz” this week showing videos and photos of him on the court and working out.

The Heat have yet to indicate one way or the other whether Bosh, who has dealt with blood clots in recent years, will be medically cleared by team doctors to return to action this year. The veteran big man clearly believes he’s capable of continuing his career, and recent social media posts that show him in action may be putting some public pressure on Miami as the team mulls its decision.

If Bosh doesn’t play in a regular-season game by February 9, the Heat could have the option of removing his contract from their cap. However, in order for the Heat to gain that cap relief, a doctor jointly selected by the NBA and the NBPA would have to agree that Bosh’s condition “is career-ending, or severe enough to put him at risk if he continues playing.”

As Jackson observes, Bosh wouldn’t agree with that assessment and recent social media posts by the 32-year-old and his wife are sending a message that the Heat will be in for a fight if they choose to go down that road. If it reaches that point, Bosh’s camp and the players’ union would likely oppose any doctors who would say he couldn’t play.

For now, the Heat and Bosh remain at an impasse, but with training camp and the preseason fast approaching, decisions will have to be made soon.