Chris Bosh has been battling blood clots for over a year, and the word around the NBA is that he’ll have a tough climb back into the league.
TNT’s David Aldridge went out and asked 20 executives for their thoughts on Bosh’s situation. The 11-time All-Star hasn’t played since the middle of 2015-16, and the reason for it is strictly health related — potentially fatal blood clotting. He failed a physical in October that prevented him from playing this season. Through it all, Bosh has been persistent in proving that he can play, but the Miami Heat, along with others, think differently:
“There will be interest, but the health risks outweigh the upside for most organizations,” one Western Conference executive said.
“There will surely be interest, but it may be hard to find a doctor that will clear him,” an Eastern Conference executive said.
“I don’t see how medical people will want to sign off and clear him,” another Western executive said. “Unless something has changed with his health recently … I don’t know of a team that would want to take that type of a risk. If something were to tragically happen, it’s hard to recover form that. Very unfortunate.”
“There will be (interest) if his medical checks out ok, which seems doubtful at this point,” another Western Conference exec said.
Bosh is owed more than $52 million over the next two seasons, but the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported that he and NBPA are working on a solution that would allow the two parties to part ways without either being negatively affected. Bosh would get his money, and the Heat wouldn’t have his contract held against them.
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Obviously, this wouldn’t be a story if he were healthy. Bosh hasn’t suited up since he was 31, but he averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in those 53 games with Miami. Now 33, he’d still bring something to the table, but the consensus is that it’s a high-risk, low-reward signing.
He was key to the Heat winning two championships even though LeBron James and Dwyane Wade overshadowed him. Once James left, Bosh and Wade took turns being the first option and he was able to hold his own. Miami undoubtedly would’ve made the playoffs with him healthy, but I don’t think they’d want to jeopardize his well-being for that to happen.
Basketball is just a small part of Bosh’s life. I understand that he wants to maximize it, but blood clotting is severe. As Aldridge noted, many players around the league want to see him out there, but all of the variables involved make it tough.
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