The career of Chris Bosh is quite possibly over. The Miami Heat were looking to have a resolution about the playing future for the former All-Star big man and after a medical review by the NBA and NBPA, it has been determined that Bosh has suffered a career-ending illness.
Bosh didn’t play in 2016-17 and his 2015-16 and 2014-15 seasons were cut short all due to complications with his blood clots. Bosh wasn’t able to get on the court and the Heat was not able to have their max contract player take the court. It was an awkward spot for all parties involved, especially when people viewed it as Bosh versus Pat Riley.
But at the end of the day, the Miami Heat have a business to run. They also wanted to look out for the best interest of Bosh and his family but his situation was too tricky for them to just outright determine on their own. They brought in the NBPA and the NBA to help determine a ruling and unfortunately, it doesn’t look great for Bosh. Chris declared he wanted to play again but it doesn’t seem like it will happen ever again.
Following from Ira Winderman of the Miami Sun-Sentinel.
A medical review by the NBA and the players’ union has agreed with the Miami Heat’s position that Chris Bosh has suffered a career-ending illness, the Sun Sentinel has confirmed with parties involved with the process.
The medical ruling was sought because of the unique circumstances of the case with Bosh, who sat out this past season following a failed preseason physical, after missing the second half of each of the previous two seasons due to blood clots.
The ruling leaves only the formality of the team placing the former All-Star forward on waivers to remove Bosh, 33, from their salary cap. The Heat have put off that maneuver until such salary-cap space is required, either for a possible trade at or near the June 22 NBA draft or the July 1 start of NBA free agency.
Bosh is guaranteed his remaining $25.3 million salary for 2017-18 and $26.8 million salary for 2018-19, much of it covered by insurance.
Once the formal application for waivers is made by the Heat, the team will immediately drop below the salary cap. The Heat will have about $37 million in salary-cap space available at the July 1 start of free agency with Bosh’s salary off their cap.
The ruling is largely a salary-cap mechanism that allows the Heat to enter free agency unencumbered by the possibility of Bosh’s salary returning to their payroll. Bosh nonetheless could return to the league at any time, provided can present medical evidence of fitness that meets league approval. League executives, however, have indicated a reluctance to take on such a risk, with the medical ruling likely hardening that stance.
Bosh will be waived through traditional waivers, but any team that makes a claim would not be eligible for similar salary-cap relief.
Although a fitness panel eventually will decide such matters, a party involved with the ruling said Friday that individual doctor was utilized with the Bosh case.
