Heat owner Micky Arison offered the first public clue about the team’s plans for Chris Bosh in a letter posted on the team’s website Thursday night. Bosh’s future has been uncertain because of doctors’ concerns over repeated blood clots, but Arison included his name in a statement directed to Heat fans about the upcoming season.
“I fully expect this team, from Pat Riley to Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, to our veterans Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Goran Dragic and Josh McRoberts, to our returning young core of Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, to the fresh faces joining the HEAT Family to continue our mantra of being the ‘hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest team in the NBA,'” the owner wrote.
Bosh’s last two seasons have ended early after the discovery of blood clots. He was limited to 53 games in 2015/16, averaging 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per night. In a July 16th press conference, team president Pat Riley said the Heat would continue monitoring Bosh’s situation until August or September and was searching for ways to revive the veteran power forward’s career, possibly including a limited workload or a restricted travel schedule.
There have been reports that Bosh is eager to play again and that he may file a grievance with the Heat through the players union to force the team to let him back on the court. Bosh still has three seasons and more than $75.8MM left on his current contract. If he sits out the entire 2016/17 season, Miami will have the option of clearing his final two years off its books, saving roughly $25.2MM in 2017/18 and $26.8MM in 2018/19.
That is not a good team. Whiteside chose poorly.
Can someone clarify the last comment? “Miami will have the option of clearing his final two years off its books” I thought they could only clear if he decides to retire? Not familiar with this rule…