Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh at the sidelines during a game last season. (Photo : Getty Images)
The drama-filled offseason isn't over yet for the Miami Heat because after losing the most celebrated player in their franchise's history Dwyane Wade to free-agency, they are apparently heading into another ugly split with All-Star power forward Chris Bosh.
NBA writer Ryan DePentima of Palm Beach Post discussed the ongoing squabble between the Heat and Bosh's camp, which he believes is getting out of hand as days pass by.
DePentimat:
"According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, members of Chris Bosh's camp have grown angry and suspicious of the Heat's intentions regarding Bosh's ability to play following a second blood-clot scare in the last two years.
Rumors and conjecture have surrounded Bosh, who suffered a recurrence of blood clots just before the NBA All-Star game in February. Some have speculated that the Heat will attempt to hold Bosh out until Feb. 9, 2017, a calendar year after he suffered the recurrence, making him eligible for medical retirement, thus clearing his salaries of $25.2 million in 2017-18 and $26.8 million in 2018-19 from Miami's books."
Bosh, who averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per 33 minutes a game before he was sidelined with the injury, was lobbying the Heat management to allow him play in the postseason while taking blood-thinner that would be out of his system in 8 to 12 hours. The Heat eventually shut down Bosh for the remainder of the postseason, as the idea of allowing Bosh to play on blood-thinner involved a lot of risk.
The team hasn't issued any indication if they would allow the All-Star power forward to resume his playing career on blood thinner up to this point, but DePentimat is expecting both parties to thoroughly discuss that issue.
Should they fail to reach an agreement, the Heat could be in for another ugly split with Bosh looking for ways to recover the bulk of the money left on his live contract. Based on the current collective bargaining agreement, only a doctor that is jointly selected by the league and players association can determine if the player's injury is career-ending or severe enough that would warrant retirement.
The 32-year old Bosh signed a five-year, $118.7 million deal with the Heat in 2014. He averaged 19.2 points on 49 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent from beyond the arc over his 13-year career.
