Chris Bosh took a physical before the start of the season and signs of the blood clotting issue that has sidelined him at the end of the past two seasons showed signs again.
Bosh has not played this season, but has been clear he wants to return to the NBA. Pat Riley has said Bosh’s time with the Heat is done. As of this February, the Heat can waive Bosh then apply to have his salary wiped off its books. The problem there for the Heat is that if Bosh does come back and plays 25 or more games for any other team over the course of his career, the entire $75 million he is owed (and will get paid regardless) goes right back on the Heat books and kills their cap space. The Heat could try to trade Bosh, but considering his condition that’s not happening. The two sides could agree to a buyout, but why would Bosh take less money than he is owed via a guaranteed contract?
Where do things stand? Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald updates us that Bosh is planning to play again next season.According to a league-employed source connected to Bosh, the mindset at the moment is that he’s more likely to attempt a comeback next season than this season.
The Heat eventually needs clarity on that, because if Miami goes through the process of removing his salary from its cap in February (it cannot happen before Feb. 9) instead of, say, April, it would leave Miami at risk if Bosh makes a comeback elsewhere this season because his salary would go back on the Heat’s cap if he plays 25 games with another team (regular season and/or playoffs).
If the Heat is comfortable that Bosh is not going to try to come back this season, it could likely purge Bosh from its cap --- pending an independent doctor’s ruling --- before the Feb. 23 trade deadline, freeing $23.6 million in space this season (which is not pro-rated, cap expert Larry Coon said). That means Miami would not need to trade similar money away to acquire a player earning substantially more.
That seems a smart move by the Heat, getting space to go after a star at this trade deadline. It lets them put off the Bosh decision for a while.
Now, could the Heat land a star at the deadline? Probably not. Who might be available? DeMarcus Cousins is the most likely superstar to be traded (although the Kings are not making that move as of now), but the Heat don’t need another center after locking up Hassan Whiteside this summer (who has played well this season). The other guys available this summer — Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Gordon Hayward, etc. — will not be on the market at the deadline. Things change, but don’t look for a massive move at the deadline.
But the Heat would have space to land someone else, say Rudy Gay or Omri Casspi, for example. They need talent on this roster, and this would give Miami the chance to chase someone and not have to send salary back in return (something that other teams will find valuable).