Chris Bosh has been popping up on social media with videos and pictures of himself working out and a declaration of “I’m a hooper.” Bosh clearly has no intention of retiring, despite missing a majority of the past two seasons with blood clots, but has not been cleared to play as of yet. While the two-time NBA champ has been vocal about his desire to play in 2016-’17, the Heat have remained mum on their plans for Bosh.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Bosh’s camp is frustrated with the Heat management and unhappy with the way the situation is being handled:
With Chris Bosh going on the offensive this week, the message to the Heat is clear: Getting salary cap relief for Bosh’s contract, if he isn’t cleared to play, is going to be a mighty contentious struggle.
We’re told the Bosh camp remains frustrated with the Heat’s handling of his situation, and that’s part of the reason Bosh and wife Adrienne have gone on a social media blitz this week. As one NBA official said, Bosh wants the public to know he wants to play amid the Heat’s silence.
The Heat has declined to say if Bosh will be cleared – Bosh has been awaiting word himself – but the team disputes any notion that it is trying to keep him off the court to remove his salary from the cap.
Bosh is owed $25.3 million in ’17-18 and $26.8 million in ’18-19 and there is speculation that the Heat will “apply to remove Bosh’s future salaries” due to his health condition, which could prove to be difficult:
To clear Bosh off the cap, the labor agreement says “a doctor that is jointly selected by the league and players association” must agree his condition “is career-ending, or severe enough to put him at risk if he continues playing.”
Bosh’s health is certainly something to keep an eye on heading into the season. For what it’s worth, Heat owner Micky Arison tweeted that he is looking forward to seeing CB at training camp:
Looking good CB @chrisbosh look forward to seeing in camp🏀 https://t.co/zR9uI6emqr
— Micky Arison (@MickyArison) August 31, 2016
