Chris Bosh Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Notes: Dragic, Bosh, Babbitt

September 24th, 2016 at 5:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Goran Dragic, who was excited to be teamed with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh when he was swapped to the Heat at the 2014 trade deadline, may finish his career in Miami without either one, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Wade signed with the Bulls over the summer and Bosh faces an uncertain medical future after failing his training camp physical. That leaves Dragic as the team’s new leader, and he says he wants to embrace that role. “When you have D-Wade next to you, or C.B., then they can take the game in their hands immediately,” Dragic said. “Now, probably it’s going to be a little bit different. I’m ready. I already felt great last year at the end of the season.” Dragic has four seasons and more than $70MM left on his contract.

There’s more news out of Miami:

Miami has the option to apply for a Disabled Player Exception if its medical staff decides Bosh can’t play this season, notes Bobby Marks of The Vertical. If an NBA-designated doctor agrees, the Heat would receive a $5.6MM exception that they can use until March 10th. The exception can be used to sign a free agent to a one-year contract or acquire a player with one season left on his current deal, either through trade or waivers. The Heat have 15 players with guaranteed contracts, including Bosh, so a roster spot would have to be cleared before the DPE could be used. However, the Heat may be looking to get the rest of Bosh’s remaining salary removed from their cap, which they can’t do if they use this exception.
Luke Babbitt may have changed teams, but his role will be the same, Winderman writes in a separate piece. Babbitt, who was acquired in a July trade with New Orleans, was used as a stretch four with the Pelicans to create room in the paint for Anthony Davis. With the Heat, he expects to create room for Hassan Whiteside and driving lanes for Dragic. “That’s what NBA offense is, is spacing,” Babbitt said. “So to give guys, to maximize those guys, Hassan, Goran, to open up driving lanes, you have to have people to space it out that can shoot, that’s the way the league is going now.” Babbitt, who just re-signed with the Pelicans last summer, said the trade caught him by surprise. “I didn’t really know it was coming,” he said. “But once I got the news, mentally it just totally shifted over and I was excited. I had a good couple of years in New Orleans, but with this kind of rebuilding group I feel like I kind of fit with what we’re trying to do here.”

Chris Bosh Pledges “Everything Will Work Out”

September 24th, 2016 at 9:01am CST by Eddie Scarito

Heat forward Chris Bosh, who failed his most recent physical and was not cleared by team doctors to participate in training camp, vowed to continue his attempt to make it back to the court, Brian Windhorst of ESPN relays. Speaking in a videotaped segment published online, Bosh called the news “a down moment right now,” while pledging that everything would work out.

“I had the intention of releasing Episode 2 of ‘Uninterrupted: Bosh Rebuilt’ today under the assumption I would be cleared to go for camp,” Bosh said in the video. “Unfortunately that is not the case. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to share my creative side with you guys and hoping that you want to come along on the journey with me. Just because the journey has ups and downs doesn’t mean I will stop sharing with you guys. So I will just continue to share despite what’s going on.”

“Little setbacks happen. But that doesn’t change my intentions and what I want to accomplish,” Bosh continued. “So I hope you continue to watch. I hope you continue to just take in my journey and just come along with me with the ups and downs. So it’s a down moment right now, but everything’s going to be all right.”

This statement from Bosh seems to indicate that he currently doesn’t intend to retire, which leaves the Heat in a difficult spot. Miami currently has 15 players under contract with fully guaranteed deals, including Bosh. If Bosh is unwilling to retire, the team will either be forced to retain Bosh, thus losing a valuable regular season roster spot and hurting its depth, or to waive the player and eat the cap hit. The 32-year-old is set to earn $23,741,060 this season, $25,289,390 in 2017/18 and $26,837,720 the following year, which is the final one in his current deal.

The Heat’s most recent exams discovered “evidence of some continued clotting,” which is thought to be related to one of the previous blood clot episodes that sidelined Bosh for parts of the last two seasons. The clotting complication isn’t viewed as life-threatening, but it will require medication, and the club doesn’t consider it realistic for Bosh to get back on the court and play in his current condition, as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reported on Friday.

The primary deadline to keep an eye on regarding Bosh and Miami’s salary cap is February 9th, 2017. If Bosh has been unable to play for Miami by that date, and a doctor jointly approved by the NBA and the Players’ Association rules him medically unable to return, the Heat could remove his current and future cap hits from their books, creating significant cap space. However, if the team made that move and Bosh was eventually cleared to return, he wouldn’t be able to rejoin the Heat. Though, the two sides’ relationship could turn openly contentious by that point and neither party may have interest in a reunion anyway.

Chris Bosh Suffers Setback, Not Cleared By Heat

September 23rd, 2016 at 11:54am CST by Luke Adams

11:54am: In the wake of Bosh’s latest setback, the Heat “increasingly believe” that his career with the team is over, says Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter). Wojnarowski adds that Bosh hasn’t wanted to speak to team president Pat Riley “for months.”

11:08am: Chris Bosh has failed his physical exam with the Heat and has not been cleared by the team to participate in training camp, reports Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (via Twitter). The Heat confirmed the news in a press release. According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, a “complication” arose during the team’s medical tests on Bosh, derailing his attempted comeback for the time being.

As Jackson details, the Heat’s exams discovered “evidence of some continued clotting,” which is thought to be related to one of the previous blood clot episodes that sidelined Bosh for parts of the last two seasons. The clotting complication isn’t viewed as life-threatening, but it will require medication, and the club doesn’t consider it realistic for Bosh to get back on the court and play in his current condition.

Bosh has long been optimistic that he’ll get back in uniform for the Heat this season, and the team had become increasingly hopeful that he would be cleared for camp — there was a growing belief that the veteran big man could potentially play during the regular season, despite taking blood-thinning medication. However, Bosh’s return was always contingent on him passing several medical tests before training camp, and being cleared by Heat doctors. That hasn’t happened.

According to Jackson, it’s not yet clear whether Bosh will continue pushing to return. In the short term, amidst this week’s setback, he’s not expected to file a grievance with the players’ union.

While we wait to see what the next step is for Bosh and the Heat, a February 9 deadline looms for salary-cap reasons. If Bosh has been unable to play for Miami by that date, and a doctor jointly approved by the NBA and the Players’ Association rules him medically unable to return, the Heat could remove his current and future cap hits from their books, creating significant cap space. However, if the team made that move and Bosh was eventually cleared to return, he wouldn’t be able to rejoin the Heat.

Southeast Notes: Millsap, Heat, Wall, Hornets

September 22nd, 2016 at 9:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Hawks power forward Paul Millsap recently underwent a procedure to reduce mild swelling in his right knee, RealGM.com relays via a team press release. The procedure was not surgical and all indications are that he will be ready to play at the start of the season, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter links). Millsap, who has averaged 17.1 points and 9.0 rebounds last season, has earned a reputation of being an iron man since joining the league during the 2006/07 season. He appeared in 81 regular-season games and 10 playoff games last season and has never missed more than nine games in any season.

In other news around the Southeast Division:

Nevada Smith has been named head coach of the Heat’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald reports. Smith previously coached the D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers for two seasons. Former Heat point guard Anthony Carter will join Smith’s staff. Former Skyforce Dan Craig has joined Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s staff along with Octavio De La Grana, who served as a Skyforce assistant coach last year.
Wizards coach Scott Brooks is uncertain about point guard John Wall’s status for the start of training camp, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post. Brooks is unsure when Wall, who underwent two knee operations during the offseason, will be cleared for five-on-five contact. “He’s improving,” Brooks told Buckner. “His body looks great [but] his conditioning is going to be behind. Once you step into an NBA practice, the level goes way up. Especially in a training camp situation where you have guys trying to make it, guys trying to fight for minutes, trying to fight for starting jobs, but we have to make sure [about Wall] because that’s when things can go sideways.”
The Heat’s decision on whether Chris Bosh will be cleared to play is not a function of the salary cap, Ira Winderman of the Florida Sun-Sentinel writes. Bosh, who has been diagnosed with blood clots in his leg the past two seasons, must be cleared by medical personnel and the rules of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement have to be followed, Winderman continues. Neither the team nor the players’ union will draw a line in the sand over one player, especially when either could opt out of the CBA as early as mid-December, Winderman adds.
The return of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist from injury and the addition of free agent center Roy Hibbert raises the defensive ceiling for a team that already ranked in the league’s top 10 last season, according to Basketball Insiders’ season preview of the Hornets. Basketball Insiders takes an optimistic view of the Hornets, with its reporters predicting anywhere from a first to third-place finish for the club this season.

Community Shootaround: Chris Bosh

September 22nd, 2016 at 6:07pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Chris Bosh‘s medical issues have created a cloud of mystery heading into the Heat’s training camp next week. Bosh believes he’s ready to return to the court, while the team wrestles with the consequences of giving him the green light after two blood clotting episodes.

Bosh had his season cut short after 44 games two seasons ago when the medical condition initially surfaced. He made it through 53 games last season before a second blood clot was discovered in his leg.

At that time, team doctors told him that his career was probably over. Bosh has resisted that diagnosis, believing that the problem can be controlled by medication without significant risk. In recent years, the NHL’s Tomas Fleischmann has taken blood thinners that leave the body quickly and allow him to play and practice.

However, the team has not cleared him to play and as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this week, the franchise is concerned about bringing him back over the long term. Bosh has threatened to get the NBA Players Association involved if the Heat continue to block his attempt to play again. According to another ESPN report, there is no timetable for a resolution.

There’s no question that the Heat look like a much more serious contender in the Eastern Conference with Bosh in uniform. He averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in 2014/15 and 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.

Bosh’s $23.7MM takes a big chunk of the team’s salary cap and the team has already spent over the cap for the upcoming season. Miami’s unimposing options at power forward besides Bosh – Derrick Williams, James Johnson, Josh McRoberts and Stefan Jankovic – reinforce the notion that the Heat need Bosh in the lineup to become a viable playoff contender.

That leads us to our question(s) of the day: Should the Heat allow Chris Bosh to play again despite his blood-clotting issues? If so, do you think Bosh can make it through the season without any setbacks?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Latest On Chris Bosh Playing For The Heat

September 21st, 2016 at 10:39pm CST by ChrisCrouse

A second blood clot was discovered in Chris Bosh‘s leg last season, leading team doctors to tell him that his career was likely over. However, the 32-year-old has been fighting the diagnosis since last winter, as Bosh discusses in a documentary on Uninterrupted.com (h/t to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com).

“[The Heat’s doctors] told me that my season is over, my career is probably over and this just happens, this is just how it is,” Bosh said. “I felt right away that I was written off. It was [claps his hands together] put it to the side matter-of-factly. If a doctor tells me, ‘Hey that’s it and this is how that is,’ and I don’t buy that. I have the right to disagree with you.”

Bosh firmly believes he has the ability to play again. “It wasn’t a matter of if I play again; it was when. So we took the bull by the horns,” he said. Last week, Bosh said that he has not yet been cleared by team doctors, but he has reportedly consulted numerous physicians for opinions on treatment and he believes he has found a medication regimen that will allow him to play. The team has not addressed Bosh’s statements.

Sources tell Windhorst that the Heat are not yet comfortable with clearing him to play long-term. If Bosh is not cleared by the team to play this season, he is expected to take the issue to the NBA Players Association, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. Bosh has three years and about $75.9MM left on his contract. His salary is guaranteed, but that figure could possibly come off of Miami’s future cap sheet if an independent doctor rules that he has become disabled. The team would not be eligible for cap relief during the 2017/18 campaign if he plays in more than nine games during this upcoming season.

According to one source, the team has “more optimism” that Bosh could play again at this point than it had at any point last year. Miami plans on welcoming him to join the team in training camp. Still, Bosh doesn’t consider his situation with the team resolved, Windhorst hears. Sources told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com that there is no timetable for a resolution.

Windhorst describes the situation between Bosh and the team as “somewhat of a standoff” since the spring. Toward the end of last season, Bosh announced through his own public relations firm that he was planning on returning to the court. Ultimately, the player’s union pressured the two sides to meet and find a resolution. The two parties decided that Bosh would be declared out for the year and they would reassess the situation prior to training camp.

The Heat will open training camp on September 27th. The power forward is expected to partake in a Facebook live chat with Maverick Carter on Wednesday. Be sure to check Hoops Rumors for the latest on Bosh’s status with the team.

Southeast Notes: Wall, Bosh, Hornets, Ibaka

September 14th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards aren’t going to push John Wall to be ready for opening night, writes Ben Standig of CSNMidAtlantic.com. The 26-year-old point guard had surgical procedures on both knees during the offseason, and the team is being careful with his recovery. “We’re in no rush,” said new Washington head coach Scott Brooks. “We want to make sure that he’s ready. It’s a process. We still have all of training camp. We’ll see. We’re going to keep working, keep pushing him. The one thing about John. He puts the work in.” Wall has started playing one-on-one, but he still has to make progress before he can handle training camp drills or five-on-five games.

There’s more out of the Southeast Division:

Chris Bosh may be planning to join the Heat in training camp, but veteran teammate Udonis Haslem cautions everyone to be realistic in their expectations, relays Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Bosh has had his last two seasons cut short by blood clots and he hasn’t played competitively since the All-Star break. “Chris’ timetable is just a little bit different than everybody else’s,” Haslem said. “So we have to be mindful. We have to be conscious of the things that are important. And the thing that is most important is that when Chris needs to be ready, that he’s ready.”
Hornets coach Steve Clifford believes the team’s offseason moves have improved the defense more than the offense, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Charlottte lost three key free agents in Jeremy Lin, Al Jefferson and Courtney Lee, but brought in Roy Hibbert, Ramon Sessions and Marco Belinelli. Also, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is expected back after missing nearly all of last season with injuries.
Serge Ibaka may help bring a winning culture to the Magic, writes Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders in a preseason look at Orlando. Ibaka, who was acquired from the Thunder in a June deal involving Victor Oladipo, was part of a very successful team in Oklahoma City and will give the Magic the rim protector they have needed since they lost Dwight Howard. However, many of the Basketball Insiders writers were confused by Orlando’s offseason moves and are concerned that they don’t have enough scorers to be a contender.

Chris Bosh: “I’m Ready To Play”

September 14th, 2016 at 4:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Chris Bosh has sent the clearest message so far that he intends to play this season, relays Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Appearing today on “Open Run,” a podcast on LeBron James‘ Uninterruped digital media outlet, the All-Star forward expressed confidence that his blood clot issues are under control.

“I’m ready to play,” Bosh said. “We’ve been talking about it for a long time.”

Bosh has missed significant parts of the past two seasons with clotting issues, and concerns about his health have lingered since doctors discovered blood clots in his calf in February. Bosh has suggested that he could play while taking blood thinners, a plan the Heat haven’t fully endorsed despite a recent report that they are warming up to the idea.

In today’s podcast, Bosh referenced NHL player Tomas Fleischmann, who has been able to play with a similar condition. Fleischmann receives anticoagulant injections after each game, and the medication is out of his system in time for the next contest. Bosh and his wife Adrienne contacted Fleischmann for the name of the doctor who set up his treatment, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

“That’s the best part about this — I’m not the first athlete to do this regiment,” Bosh said. “[Fleischmann had the] same problem I actually had the second time [with blood clots]. This is five, six years [ago]. He’s been playing for five years now. And this particular doctor has had the same regiment with other athletes. So this is nothing that is new. It’s not ground breaking. We’re not reinventing the wheel here. It’s pretty standard. It’s been proven. Guys have played on it. Like I said, for anybody to have worries, there are guys playing basketball and hockey and football [with this regiment].”

Bosh has been working out by himself in Los Angeles and has been posting videos on line to show that he’s ready to return to the NBA, including a pair of new ones on Tuesday. Bosh said he definitely plans to join the Heat when training camp opens September 27th in the Bahamas, calling it his “contractual and professional obligation.”

“I have full confidence that, yeah, I’ll be there,” he said. “Will I be cleared? I don’t know. But that’s out of my hands. I will play basketball in the NBA. I’m confident.”

A Heat spokesman declined comment today on any of Bosh’s statements.

Bosh’s Return Becoming More Likely

September 11th, 2016 at 9:57am CST by Arthur Hill

“Growing optimism” is surrounding Chris Bosh‘s quest to return to the court, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. A source from the players union says there is reason to believe the Heat will clear Bosh to play while taking blood thinners, and Jackson adds that it would be a surprise if Bosh doesn’t receive medical clearance as long as there are no setbacks.

Bosh, who has been sidelined by blood clots during the past two seasons, hasn’t played since the All-Star break in February, when doctors discovered clotting in his leg. He had hoped to return for the playoffs and had considered filing a grievance against the Heat, but he and the team agreed to work things out over the offseason.

Bosh believes he can play while taking a new type of blood thinner that only stays in his system for about eight hours. The Heat have been opposed to that idea, but their stance appears to be softening. Playing contact sports while on blood thinners is considered risky because it creates a possibility of heavy bleeding.

It’s possible that Bosh may be placed on a maintenance program with a reduced workload, such as having a restricted travel schedule or not playing in back-to-back games. Team president Pat Riley mentioned that as a possibility in a July press conference where he promised the Heat would work with Bosh to find a way to get him back on the court.

Bosh was limited to 53 games last season, but averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per night and made the All-Star team for the 11th straight year. He still has three seasons and nearly $75.9MM left on his current contract. The Heat would have an opportunity to take the last two years of that salary off their cap if Bosh goes a full year without playing.

Heat Notes: Richardson, Bosh, Chalmers, Cole

September 10th, 2016 at 6:25pm CST by Arthur Hill

Josh Richardson doesn’t expect any long-term problems from a knee injury that will force him to sit out the preseason, relays the Associated Press. Richardson learned today that he will miss six to eight weeks after partially tearing the MCL in his right knee during a workout Friday. The good news is that doctors don’t believe he will require surgery. Richardson wore a large brace on his leg and walked with the help of crutches as he attended a store opening today in Fort Lauderdale. “When I hit the ground, it was like my knee was on fire,” he said. “I just kind of laid there and my teammates helped me off and carried me off to the training room. I just tried not to think the worst.” The timetable means Richardson could possibly be ready for Miami’s regular season opener Oct. 26 at Orlando.

There’s more tonight out of Miami:

Chris Bosh could become the latest in a long line of Heat players to be put on a maintenance program, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. With training camp nearing, Bosh’s status is still uncertain after blood clots cut short his past two seasons. Miami officials are considering a reduced workload to help Bosh adjust to playing while taking blood thinners. Winderman notes that maintenance programs were also set up for Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, Dan Majerle and others.
Former Miami point guard Mario Chalmers wasn’t dropping any hints when he posted an online photo of himself working out in Heat shorts, Winderman notes in the same piece. Chalmers, who spent more than seven years in Miami before being traded last November, remains without a team a little more than two weeks before training camp. Winderman suggests the Cavaliers could be a destination for Chalmers or his former Heat teammate Norris Cole.
Little has changed on Bosh’s situation from last season’s playoffs, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Bosh remains convinced that he can play, but the team hasn’t given him medical clearance. Bosh has been working out by himself in Los Angeles while most of his teammates are practicing together in Miami.