Speculation about Chris Bosh’s NBA future sparked up not long after his Miami Heat got the boot from the NBA playoffs by the Toronto Raptors in the conference semifinals.
Bosh missed the entire postseason with a medical condition that has conflicting reports coming out left and right.
ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst is the latest to provide an update on the situation—and it isn’t good:
There is a fear within the Heat organization that Bosh’s condition will prevent him from ever being cleared to play by team doctors, several sources said. It’s a result of exhaustive consultations with specialists. Something this big and delicate, the sides have gone deep attempting to understand all the options.
Bosh last played on February 9. Folks will recall an issue derailed Bosh and the Heat last year, too. It’s a reality that makes for quite the uncomfortable situation between the two sides:
Bosh wants to return to play, this is clear. The Heat would love to have Bosh back, this is clear. Miami’s position has been one of protecting Bosh, both medically and with the public as their silence has been at Bosh’s direction.
But there’s also this reality: The Heat have had two seasons derailed because of Bosh’s medical issues. If their doctors don’t think he can be cleared to play, the team has to protect itself from having the turn of events affect not only Bosh’s personal health but also the health of the team.
For the Heat, the team has to confront this reality by wondering if Bosh will ever be the same. He’s 32 years old and it hurts to move on, but all that cap space could go elsewhere. Additions like Joe Johnson are great, but a big-name player might want to come to town based on the rest of the roster, not to mention the location and a guru at the controls like Pat Riley.
For Bosh, he’s already hitting the age of no return. A medical retirement is never how any athlete views his or her career ending, but Bosh has made his money and won his titles, which is more than most can say. It’s about his long-term health now, and if the Heat won’t clear him, it doesn’t make much sense to go start over somewhere else, should any team clear him.
This seems like the early throes of a miserable ending to a story. In a summer headlined by league movement, the Association might lose Bosh in the process.