The Heat, once it purges Chris Bosh’s salary from its cap in the next couple of months, could have $39.5 million in cap space this summer, enough to sign a max player but not leaving much room for much else significant.
More on Chris Bosh Retirement
Bosh remains under contract with the Miami Heat, though the team is likely to begin a process of waiving him and getting salary-cap relief from the final two years of his deal. He'll be owed about $52.1 million for 2017-18 and 2018-19, money he is guaranteed to receive but dollars that may not count against the Heat books. He is reticent to discuss his playing future, though acknowledged again that planning to play this season but not being able to because of a failed physical "was a challenge." "I'm still a basketball player at heart," Bosh said. "I can't help it."
"I'm a little bit more adjusted now," Bosh said. "But before, you're going 100 mph and the brakes are slammed on and now you're not moving at all. It's definitely an adjustment, just being able to get used to things and finding that purpose that I think we all need to succeed and have good mental health. It's been a challenge. Things happen for a reason, I guess."
The five kids at home, that's full-time. And they're used to having their dad at home when they arrive back from school in the afternoon, something Bosh — who is playing some basketball in workouts — has happily gotten used to as well. "People are so concerned and I appreciate it, but I'm doing fine," Bosh said. "I'm very happy. I'm getting to do other things that I have never been able to do. I'm a beginner in a lot of things. But I've learned to like it, and just look at the nice new picture I have of the world."
The use of blood thinners typically returns a blood-clot sufferer to general health, although the use of blood thinners is contraindicated for those attempting contact sports. The Heat, according to a source close to the situation, in recent days have attempted to reach out to Bosh in hopes of an amicable resolution, without response. Bosh remains with a stall in the Heat locker room at AmericanAirlines Arena, but has not been around the team this season, in contrast to his presence after being sidelined the previous two seasons.
Presuming a doctor agrees with that assessment, then Bosh’s contract would be cleared from Miami’s cap, creating an additional $25 million in cap room this summer and giving the Heat an estimated $38 million in space. But if Bosh makes a comeback with another team, that could be problematic for the Heat. Once he plays in 25 games for another team during any single season (including playoffs), his salary would go back on Miami’s cap.
An NBA-employed associate said Bosh has made no attempt toward playing this season but still has interest in playing again, health permitting. Bosh’s comments come days after he was in contact with the Heat’s medical staff, as the sides are expected to begin the process of a separation at some point in March.
NBA on TNT: Welcome to the family, @chrisbosh!
Bosh, speaking at a CES gadget show in Las Vegas, did not address his health but said he’s still figuring out what he wants to do next. “I'm still learning more about myself and my situation, and really off the court how to function there because I'm kind of getting the taste of retirement now," Bosh said, via the Associated Press. "Just trying to navigate those waters because it gets a little complicated sometimes. ... Hoping one day that the stars align and I figure some things out and things kind of just go my way and I'll be able to do what I want to do. I don't know what that is yet."
Bosh said "there's still a lot of things" that he has to figure out. "I'm still learning more about myself and my situation, and really off the court how to function there because I'm kind of getting the taste of retirement now," Bosh said. "Just trying to navigate those waters because it gets a little complicated sometimes. ... Hoping one day that the stars align and I figure some things out and things kind of just go my way and I'll be able to do what I want to do. I don't know what that is yet."
Bosh, speaking at the CES gadget show in Las Vegas, was asked how he's spent time away from the court. "For me, I kind of just follow my passions and follow what I love to do and use my free time to kind of answer those questions and go through my bad moods and maybe a little light case of depression," Bosh said. "Really, to search for what I'm looking for. And I've come to some interesting conclusions. It's all about following my heart and what made me happy."
Chris Bosh: Getting to check something off my bucket list by attending @CES ! Great way to start out the year. Who's out here? #CES2017 #SBlatCES
Salary-cap relief won't come until Feb. 9 at the earliest, but the Miami Heat are now positioned to receive insurance relief from the balance of Chris Bosh's contract, General Manager Andy Elisburg confirmed Monday to the Sun Sentinel.
With Saturday's victory over the Washington Wizards at the start of this four-game trip marking 41 consecutive regular-season games missed by Bosh, who failed his preseason physical after missing the second half of the past two seasons due to blood clots, Elisburg confirmed that insurance on the remainder of Bosh's contract can now come into play. Bosh, who is under contract for this season and the following two seasons, has been away from the team since the end of last season, currently posting vacation social media from Southeast Asia.
Bosh has already received $9.5 million of his $14 million 2016-17 salary in up-front payments as previously negotiated. Even with insurance kicking in, Bosh continues to receive his payments from the Heat in similar form as previously. "We still pay Chris," Elisburg said. "Chris is still the employee and we still are responsible for paying the salary."
The Heat and Chris Bosh are still at odds about his health and when he might be able to play again after missing significant time because of blood clots. League sources said Bosh definitely wants to play again, but it’s likely not to be in Miami. The Heat could waive Bosh, but if he played 25 games this season with another team, they would get no cap relief in doing so. The Heat could trade Bosh to a club that feels he could play immediately and push it to a championship level.
The National Basketball Players Association is monitoring the Miami Heat's approach with sidelined Chris Bosh, including the possibility of the team keeping the All-Star power forward on the roster long enough to prevent him from becoming playoff eligible for another team. A party familiar with the NBPA's approach on Friday told the Sun Sentinel that the union is examining the situation, while also remaining cognizant of the ongoing medical and privacy issues with Bosh, who failed his preseason physical after missing the second half of the past two seasons due to blood clots.
The union currently is involved in the delicate stages of formulating a new collective-bargaining agreement, with a more proactive stance on Bosh expected to be taken should the distancing of the Heat with Bosh continue to a point where Bosh could possibly resume his career, the party familiar with the situation told the Sun Sentinel.
Bosh has been away from the Heat since his failed physical in late September. Heat President Pat Riley said he did not expect to have Bosh with the team at practices or games, a role Bosh took the previous two seasons when sidelined. Bosh has not approached the team about returning to the bench or locker room, according to a party familiar with the situation.
Manny Navarro: Yep. @Chris Bosh still has a locker here https://t.co/Ex0HlTj36P
Anthony Chiang: Chris Bosh: "I'm not really thinking about money. I'm just thinking about where my heart is. I love the NBA, I love playing basketball every day." - RT: UNINTERRUPTED: Chris Bosh's story continues in Chapter 5 of #BoshRebuilt, now streaming at UNINTERRUPTED.com pic.twitter.com/C5yJ9JbjiA
Ira Winderman: Chris Bosh releases latest video, says, "No matter what, I'm going to play basketball."
Ira Winderman: Chris Bosh in new video, "I'm just as confused as everybody else."
What was your reaction when you heard Pat Riley say he believed Chris Bosh likely never will play again for the Heat? Chris Bosh: Before I even focused on basketball my concern went out to CB as a person, as an individual. I have a good relationship with him. I have a good relationship with his family. My wife has a great relationship with his wife. Secondly as a friend you support your friend through the good, the bad, the ups and downs. Regardless of where CB’s career takes him or whatever his situation may be, we’re always going to have a relationship, we’re always going to be friends. I’m always going to be rooting for CB.
Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Monday that the team views Chris Bosh's career with the team as over, that the team no longer is working toward his return. "We are not," Riley said in his office at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I think Chris is still open-minded. But we are not working toward his return.
"We feel that, based on the last exam, that his Heat career is probably over." Asked if he felt Bosh's NBA career was over, as well, Riley said, "that's up to him."
Bosh has been sidelined for the second half of each of the past two seasons due blood clots, recently failing the Heat's preseason physical. "It's pretty definitive from us, in our standpoint, that this is probably going to be a time where we really have to step back," Riley said.
Riley said the team has been surprised by Bosh's comments about the team. "It wasn't like [gesture of washing his hands of it]. He wasn't just written off," Riley said. "That may have been his attitude and his perception of it, because he didn't want to believe what was out there. That bothered me. He wasn't written off. "Besides that, we did everything we could."
Bosh has indicated to associates that he has no plans to retire at this time and intends to play next season for the Heat. He is under contract for three seasons after this one, at roughly $75.5 million. Even if he retired this offseason, the Heat would not receive any salary-cap relief until summer 2017.
According to multiple sources, although the Heat remains supportive of Bosh (he traveled on owner Micky Arison’s plane), they have not all been aligned in terms of the treatment of his condition. The team has been the more cautious party, making it known behind the scenes that, just because an outside doctor clears Bosh, it doesn’t mean the team will be comfortable letting him play. That would be true even with a medical waiver that would in some way limit liability.
Bosh, eager to return, has sought opinions from multiple doctors about whether it was safe to come off the blood thinners in order to resume playing this season. On that issue, there were different opinions among the doctors consulted by Bosh, according to two sources with direct knowledge. But most of the doctors consulted believed Bosh should continue taking the blood thinners for several months, which is common treatment for the condition, even though the clot dissipated several weeks ago. That is ultimately the course Bosh took.
