7:13pm: Heat owner Micky Arison added some intrigue to the Bosh situation this evening with a tweet that read “Looking good CB look forward to seeing in camp.” Arison was responding to the workout videos that Bosh posted online. This is the clearest indication from the team that it expects Bosh to play this season.
6:00pm: The NBA could get involved in any agreement between Chris Bosh and the Heat, reports Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel.
After having his last two seasons cut short by blood clots, the veteran power forward wants to be cleared to play this season, but the Heat remain concerned about his medical status. Bosh is becoming increasingly frustrated by the organization’s refusal to grant him medical clearance and has started a social media campaign to pressure the team into action. Bosh posted videos of recent workouts and a photo of him working out with former Miami star Dwyane Wade.
The Heat have raised objections about Bosh playing while taking blood thinners or possibly abandoning the medication in an effort to return. There was a possibility that he might take the disagreement to the players’ union during last season’s playoffs, but he and the team reached an agreement to hold off any action.
Multiple sources have told Winderman that they expect league representatives to become part of any resolution between the parties. The Heat training camp opens September 27th, and players must pass physicals before they can participate.
It has been widely reported that the Heat can remove Bosh’s future salary from their cap for medical reasons if he goes a year without appearing in a game, which in his case would happen on February 9th. But the rules may be less restrictive than originally thought, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
He cites Section VII (4) (h) (1) of the labor agreement, which would permit the Heat to exclude Bosh’s salary starting next summer if he plays in fewer than 10 games and has a career-ending incident. Preseason games wouldn’t count toward that total, but playoff games would. Bosh is owed more than $23.7MM this season, nearly $25.3MM in 2017/18 and more than $26.8MM in 2018/19.
Since this issue involves a potentially catastrophic injury that could cause a heart attack (clot in lungs) or stroke (clot moves to brain) that risks, paralysis, brain injury or death, and would require a doctor’s finding that there is no realistic risk, is anyone liable should Bosh be disabled or worse and sues? Medical records indicate 2 clots in one year elevates the probability of a third. Why would a doctor approve his return to the court in that case? Why would the league intervene to reinstate his playing status? Why would the Heat support his return? Can Bosh indemnify and hold harmless all outside parties if everyone agrees to let him play while medical experts are warning he is at increased risk? The medical opinions are split.