Chris Bosh Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Southeast Notes: Hawes, Bosh, Lee

April 28th, 2016 at 6:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Hornets center Spencer Hawes underwent an MRI today that revealed a sprain of the MCL in his right knee, and he’ll miss the remainder of Charlotte’s first round series against the Heat as a result, the team announced via press release. The big man will be re-evaluated in a week’s time, according to the team. Hawes has appeared in five playoff games for the Hornets and has averaged 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per contest. The 28-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract, though his pact does include a player option for 2017/18 worth $6,021,175, so he should have more than ample time to recover prior to hitting the open market.

Here’s more from the Southeast Division:

A person with direct knowledge of the situation insists Heat power forward Chris Bosh found a doctor who appeared willing to give clearance for him to play, but the team and its doctors disagreed with that assessment, relays Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Bosh, who hasn’t played since February 9th because of concerns about reported blood clots in his left calf, is lobbying for the team to activate him so he can contribute in the playoffs.
The Wizards have plenty of holes to fill with the approximately $28MM worth of cap flexibility the team will have this summer, and finding a reliable backcourt mate for John Wall should be at the top of Washington’s list of tasks, Bobby Marks of The Vertical opines in his offseason primer for the franchise. Marks also adds that landing Kevin Durant via free agency this summer is a long shot and the Wizards may be better served to spread the money around to build up their depth rather than spending it all on one max contract.
Hornets swingman Courtney Lee wasn’t initially thrilled about the deadline trade that landed him in Charlotte but said a phone conversation with coach Steve Clifford changed his mind about the move, as Justin Verrier of ESPN.com details. “I know what type of coach he is and what he demands of his players, the amount of hours he put in with preparing the team and his attention to detail,” Lee said of Clifford. “So I got excited about joining him again.” Clifford was an assistant with the Magic when Lee was a rookie during the 2008/09 campaign.

And-Ones: D’Antoni, Eversley, Walton

April 27th, 2016 at 9:24pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Former NBA player Nate Robinson, when asked who was the worst coach he had played for in the NBA, had some unkind words for Mike D’Antoni, who coached the diminutive guard when both were with the Knicks, international journalist David Pick relays. “Mike D’Antoni was a cool coach, but he was just a bad person,” Robinson told Pick. “He can coach. He was just mean for no reason. He had no reason to be a certain way toward players he liked and didn’t like. As a man, you would talk to somebody if you had a problem with them. You would tell them. He never told me exactly what his problem was with me. I didn’t know how to change it. I’d talk to him every day, but he would ignore me. It was crazy.”

Here’s more from around the league:

The Lakers have asked for and been granted permission to interview Warriors assistant Luke Walton for their vacant coaching post, reports Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (on Twitter). Golden State’s allowance for Los Angeles to speak with Walton did come with the caveat that it occur when the team is between playoff series, Spears adds.
Marc Eversley, who is currently the Wizards‘ VP of scouting, interviewed with the Sixers this week for a post that would make him GM Bryan Colangelo‘s second in command, relays Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post (via Twitter).
Heat power forward Chris Bosh, who hasn’t played since February 9th because of concerns about reported blood clots in his left calf, is lobbying for the team to activate him so he can contribute in the playoffs, The Toronto Sun relays via the Sports Xchange. Bosh’s wife, Adrienne, even took to Twitter with the message #BringBoshBack, but the organization still maintains its stance that the veteran is out indefinitely, according to the post.
LSU freshman shooting guard Antonio Blakeney won’t be testing the draft waters this season despite his name appearing on the league’s official early entrants list, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays (Twitter links). “Just a case of formality of the paperwork not reaching the NBA office prior to the preparation of the list,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said of Blakeney’s inclusion among the draft entrants, Goodman notes.

Heat Notes: Bosh, Wade, Whiteside

April 23rd, 2016 at 8:02pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Heat lost today’s contest against the Hornets by a score of 96-80 in a game where Charlotte looked sharp and Miami committed 14 turnovers. The Heat just didn’t appear to have their shooting touch, going 34.2% from the field as a team. As the franchise attempts to regroup in advance of Tuesday night’s Game 4, let’s take a look at some notes from the team:

Chris Bosh says he has no plans to retire and expects to play for the Heat next season, as Ethan J. Skolnick and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pass along. Bosh will make $75.9MM over the next three seasons should he continue to play.
Coach Erik Spoelstra appreciates Bosh’s presence around the team, indicating that the big man is still providing leadership for the Heat off the court, Skolnick and Jackson add in the same piece.
With Bosh out and Udonis Haslem ailing, Dwyane Wade is the only player from the 2013/14 squad that reached the NBA finals who is receiving consistent minutes for the Heat this postseason, writes Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel. Wade acknowledges that he has to take a bigger role in leading this type of team. “This is our first time in the playoffs,” Wade said. “We’ve looked amazing at [times] and at other times not so amazing. The [young guys] are going to look at you to lead in situations, to help them believe, to give them their confidence in moments where you don’t have it. That’s a big responsibility I have.”
Hassan Whiteside should garner a max contract this offseason, and Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel believes the Heat should retain him at any cost. Winderman makes note of all the young players they have under contract at team-friendly prices, including Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, and he sees signing Whiteside, even at the max, as a no-brainer.

Heat Notes: Weber, Whiteside, Wright, Bosh

April 10th, 2016 at 11:51am CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat were looking to the future when they agreed to sign Briante Weber to a multiyear contract Saturday, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. The partially guaranteed deal ties up a small amount of money, but it gives Miami a chance to develop the 23-year-old point guard. Winderman notes that the Heat made a similar move with Josh Richardson and will probably do the same this summer with Tyler Johnson. He speculates that the addition of Weber and the possible return of Beno Udrih gives Miami the flexibility to trade Goran Dragic if the front office believes it needs more cap space to re-sign Hassan Whiteside, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng or Joe Johnson. Weber, who was waived by the Heat during training camp, is known as a playmaker and defensive specialist. His only NBA experience is six games with the Grizzlies during a 10-day contract in March.

There’s more news from Miami:

Despite being a candidate for a max contract, Whiteside is still learning the intricacies of basketball, Winderman writes in a separate story. Coach Erik Spoelstra frequently pulls his center from games for brief teaching moments. “If he sees something, he’ll let me know,” Whiteside said. “If he doesn’t … more likely he’ll see something. Or he’ll give me advice and I’ll go back out there.”
Dorell Wright would just provide insurance if he signs with the Heat, Winderman contends in another piece. Miami is planning to use an eight-man rotation in the playoffs, which leaves almost no playing time for Wright, Weber or veteran point guard John Lucas III if the Heat sign him instead of Wright. Winderman notes that the battle for court time is already crowded, with Gerald Green and Josh McRoberts out of the rotation and Tyler Johnson possibly picking up some minutes if he returns from injury.
The Heat have embraced “small-ball” in response to Chris Bosh‘s absence, according to Michael Pina of RealGM. Deng has taken over Bosh’s role as Miami has cranked up its tempo. The Heat have been outscoring their opponents by 7.4 point per 100 possessions with Deng on the floor. “It’s a requirement for us,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the benefit of it. Chris Bosh goes out, you have to do things differently.” Bosh hasn’t played since the All-Star break because of blood clots in his left calf.

Heat Rumors: Whiteside, McRoberts, Green, Bosh

March 27th, 2016 at 1:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat have decided they want to keep impending free agent center Hassan Whiteside but are concerned that he’s getting more expensive, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. There were “serious concerns” earlier in the year about giving a huge deal to Whiteside, Jackson hears, but his recent play has taken care of those. Team president Pat Riley and executive Alonzo Mourning have both told Whiteside they’re happy with his progress, but the team can’t hold any formal contract discussions until summer because league rules prevent extensions for players with two-year deals. Whiteside could get a starting salary of approximately $22MM on a max contract, depending on the size of the cap. “I hope [there’s interest],” Whiteside said. “I like the organization. Pat Riley is always going to do a great job of adding people that are going to help you win. It’s not hard to sell to come to Miami. You can always recruit great talent.”

There’s more news from South Beach:

Miami’s decision on how to handle its two open roster spots could be determined by the team’s faith in Josh McRoberts and Gerald Green, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. The columnist says if the Heat believe both veteran forwards can contribute in the playoffs, they will likely fill the spots with players from their successful D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls. However, if there is doubt about McRoberts and Green, Winderman thinks the Heat will pursue a more seasoned player, suggesting 30-year-old Dorell Wright as a possibility. Wright, who began his career in Miami, played for the Blazers during the past two seasons but spent this year in the Chinese Basketball Association.
With the regular season schedule dwindling, it’s becoming unlikely that Chris Bosh will play again before the playoffs, Winderman writes in the same story. Bosh hasn’t been in a game since February 9th because of concerns about reported blood clots in his left calf. With a western trip looming this week, Winderman notes that the team may not hold another practice before April 4th, which limits Bosh’s chance to return.
Joe Johnson has started riding an exercise bike after games to help build endurance to keep up with Miami’s fast-paced offense, tweets Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. Johnson chose the Heat over the Cavaliers after agreeing to a buyout with Brooklyn because he prefers an up-tempo style.

Southeast Notes: Harris, Bosh, Humphries, Morris

March 24th, 2016 at 12:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

Tobias Harris just signed a four-year, $64MM deal with the Magic in July, but he took it in stride when the team traded him to the Pistons at last month’s deadline, observes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. “I’m not mad at Orlando for the trade,” Harris said Tuesday. “Actually, if I was to sit here and be upset, that would be selfish, wouldn’t it? All they did was put me in an amazing situation. Truthfully, I thank them for that. I mean, I loved my time there, but business is business, and I think being here has been great for me.”

Harris’ new team got the better of his old one Wednesday as Detroit beat Orlando, 118-102. See more from the Southeast Division:

Chris Bosh and the Heat have received conflicting information about how soon he can stop taking blood thinners and return to the court, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Bosh can’t play until he’s off blood thinners, and while some doctors recommend that patients stay on blood thinners for three to six months after a clot develops, others disagree, Jackson notes. Bosh reportedly developed the clots in mid-February.
The buyout market signing of Kris Humphries has returned the big man to a traditional inside role after the Wizards tried to make him into a stretch four earlier this season, and the arrangement has been beneficial for the Hawks, coach/executive Mike Budenholzer said, notes Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post. Humphries goes back on the free agent market July 1st. “He’s fit in really well,” Budenholzer said. “I’d just say rebounding is an area where we need to be better and he’s kind of come in and given a little life. He tracks offensive boards, goes to the offensive boards. And I’m hoping he’ll be more of an influence on our other guys even though it’s not something we prioritize. He brings a little bit of a physicality, a little bit of a toughness. And then he can make shots, he can spread the court. Shoot threes, make threes. And his personality, he’s added a little personality to our locker room, too, so it’s just been a really good fit.”
Markieff Morris makes Washington’s defense better, his contract isn’t a killer, and the top-nine protected pick the Wizards gave up in the trade to acquire him is unlikely to cost the team a landmark player, contends J. Michael of CSN Mid Atlantic, who sees the deal as a victory for Washington. “It’s the versatility of him being able to guard postup guys as well as out on the perimeter, whether it’s a three, four or five guy,” coach Randy Wittman said. “His knowledge of the game, his willingness to pass. He’s a willing passer and makes great decisions at the other end.”

Heat Rumors: Riley, Bosh, Whiteside, LeBron

March 20th, 2016 at 3:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

Team president Pat Riley says the Heat are taking an “open-minded” stance on the health of All-Star big man Chris Bosh, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Riley added that there is no expectation about whether Bosh will play again this season. “We’re just supportive of Chris and what he’s going through,” Riley said. “We’re just going to wait and see what the future holds. There really isn’t any comment. I have great empathy for the man. I know how much he wants to play. We’ll just see where it goes.”

Bosh, who hasn’t played since the All-Star break due to blood clots in his left calf, released a statement earlier this month saying that the condition has subsided and indicating that he plans to return before the end of the season. Jackson reports that Bosh has received mixed medical opinions, and Heat officials want to be fully convinced that there’s no danger before they let him play again. Last month, the Heat were reportedly trying to convince Bosh to sit out the rest of the season. The team has reason to be concerned about Bosh’s health, as blood clots in his lungs cut last season short for him and he still has three years and nearly $76MM remaining on his contract.

There’s more news out of Miami:

Riley also marveled at the progress of center Hassan Whiteside, Jackson relays in the same piece. Whiteside signed with Miami in November 2014 after two seasons out of the NBA, and he quickly became a shot-blocking and rebounding force who now has a shot at a maximum contract in free agency. “In my 50 years in the NBA, I’ve never seen that kind of phenomenon,” Riley said. “I know that’s hurting me right now as far as his free agency goes, complimenting him. But he’s really grown a lot.”
After the Heat crushed the Cavaliers on Saturday, LeBron James offered a hug to his former coach, Erik Spoelstra, and some kind words for the rebuilding job the Heat franchise has done since he left for Cleveland in 2014, writes Ethan Skolnick of The Miami Herald. “They’ve opened up the floor a lot more now, with them being able to put Luol [Deng] at the four, and it definitely benefits [Goran] Dragic for sure. He looks to play in the open floor. It definitely helps their tempo,” James said. “And then the kid coming off the bench, Josh Richardson, really gives them a boost as well.”

Eastern Notes: Mozgov, Calderon, Embiid

March 14th, 2016 at 10:47pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cavs center Timofey Mozgov has cost himself millions with his poor play this season, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal opines. Mozgov, who is making $4.95MM this season and will head into unrestricted free agency, has been dealing with unspecified personal problems that have contributed to his lack of on-court production, Lloyd continues. Mozgov has been particularly ineffective defensively, which has led to a drop in playing time and teammates yelling at him after breakdowns, Lloyd adds. “I’ve got a lot of [stuff] in my head,” Mozgov told Lloyd. “I’m not going to share it to nobody. You ask me what’s going on in my head, you’re not going to find out.”

In other news around the Eastern Conference:

Jose Calderon will play for the Spanish National Team during this summer’s Olympic Games, but his Knicks future beyond this season is uncertain, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Calderon has one year and approximately $7.7MM remaining on his contract but the Knicks could use the stretch provision and save $5MM on next season’s cap, Berman continues, though he’s a viable option as a backup point guard. Calderon’s thoughts concerning the offseason are centered around winning a gold medal, Berman adds. “It will be my fourth Olympics,” he told Berman. “I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to play more. I think four is a good number.”
Sixers center Joel Embiid will have restrictions if and when he returns next season, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft is expected to finally make his debut after foot surgeries wiped out his first two seasons, but the team will exercise caution with him, as coach Brett Brown relayed to Pompey. “We have to be responsible with some minute restrictions with him,” Brown said. “You would assume that he’s not going to play back-to-back games. All those things will be determined.”
Power forward Chris Bosh returned to the Heat bench in street clothes on Monday night, his first appearance there since blood clot issues sidelined him at the All-Star break, according to ESPN.com’s Michael Wallace and The Associated Press. However, it remains unclear if Bosh will return this season, the story adds. Bosh released a statement last week in which he expressed optimism about playing again before season’s end.

Chris Bosh ‘Positive’ He’ll Return This Season

March 10th, 2016 at 10:44am CST by Chuck Myron

10:44am: The Heat won’t clear Bosh if there’s any risk at all to his health, as Ethan Skolnick of the Miami Herald hears (Twitter link). The statement Bosh released today came from a public relations firm that also represents Dwyane Wade and not from the Heat, Skolnick notes (Twitter links). The team has been prepared to make a statement for four weeks but has left the matter to Bosh, Skolnick adds.

10:17am: Chris Bosh has expressed his intention to return to play this season in a statement he released to media, according to Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). The Heat star said he’s no longer suffering from blood clots and that he continues to work with doctors.

“I remain positive that I will be able to return this season,” Bosh said in part (see the full statement here).

The Heat were reportedly pressuring Bosh to sit out the rest of the season, as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reported, though a team source who spoke with Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post denied that. Bosh’s maximum-salary contract calls for him to make more than $75.868MM over three seasons after this one, a massive investment for the team. He missed the second half of last season with blood clots in his lungs, but the problem this year was reportedly confined to his left calf.

Bosh has apparently held out hope of playing this season from the beginning of the issue last month, and he’s conveyed positive signals via social media even as he hasn’t spoken with reporters and the team has given little information about his health. He hasn’t played since February 9th, the Heat’s last game before the All-Star break, and he was a late scratch for the All-Star Game because of the clotting.

The return of Bosh would be a major boost to the Heat, who’ve gone 5-1 since buyout-market signee Joe Johnson made his debut February 28th. A lineup with both Bosh and Johnson would ostensibly make the Heat formidable contenders for the Eastern Conference title.

Southeast Notes: Wade, Bosh, Williams, Magic

March 6th, 2016 at 6:07pm CST by Arthur Hill

Dwyane Wade will be a free agent for the second straight year, but there’s virtually no chance he will leave Miami, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Wade is proud of spending his entire 13-year NBA career in one city and persevering through the ups and downs. “It’s not that common in today’s game, but, yeah, you feel very prideful,” Wade said. “It hasn’t all been great, but you continue to stick with it, you continue to fight with it. I’ve been here, good or bad, the Miami Heat stays relevant.” Wade cashed in last summer, earning the highest salary of his career when he re-signed with the Heat for one year at $20MM. He stands to increase that figure this year with the expected jump in the salary cap.

There’s more news from the Southeast Division:

Chris Bosh has been working out with Heat staff members rather than his teammates, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. “Not necessarily with the team. But, yeah, he’ll work out with the staff,” said coach Erik Spoelstra. “He’s staying engaged and he’s in great spirits. And that never surprised me with C.B.” Miami is trying to assess Bosh’s chances of returning to action this season after reportedly suffering a blood clot in his calf. The team hasn’t confirmed his condition and is simply putting him on the inactive list without explanation.
The Hornets‘ Marvin Williams is posting some career-high numbers in his 11th season, notes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Williams is having his best season in rebounding and 3-point shooting, and at 10.9 points per game, he has his highest scoring average in seven years. Those figures should be attractive on the open market this summer, as Williams is wrapping up the final season of a two-year, $14MM contract. “One thing my father always taught me is hard work pays off,” Willliams said. “I worked extremely hard this summer and I feel like I’m benefitting from that. It’s helping me and it’s helping our team.”
The Magic could strengthen their presentation to this summer’s free agents with a berth in the playoffs, writes Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando is expected to be aggressive in the free agent market, and Schmitz lists Al Horford, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, Bradley Beal, Nicolas Batum, Chandler Parsons, Ryan Anderson and Harrison Barnes as possible targets.