At long last, the Miami Heat and Chris Bosh appear to be on the same page.
Bosh’s career has been derailed due to blood clots, which has in turn created an awkward, overwhelmingly tenuous situation between himself and the Heat, who first deemed the All-Star big unfit to continue playing. Bosh resisted the prognosis pretty publicly at first, but the headlines have since cooled. Still, there are two years and about $52.1 million left on his deal, money that would hamstring Miami’s ability to retool the roster.
The rest of Bosh’s contract was always expected to be wiped off the books. That process is now on the verge of completion —in a way that permanently absolves the Heat of financial obligation should Bosh return to the court, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel‘s Ira Winderman:
The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh are moving close to resolution that will allow the team to shed Bosh’s salary from its salary cap without concern of that figure returning to its cap, parties familiar with the proceedings confirmed to the Sun Sentinel. …
While the delay prevented the Heat from utilizing reclaimed cap space either at the Feb. 23 NBA trading deadline or the March 1 buyout deadline, the amicable negotiations allow the Heat to enter the July 1 start of free agency positioned with about $37 million in salary-cap space — and without concern of future salary-cap space being compromised by a possible Bosh return to another team.
This is obviously an ideal resolution for the Heat, who get to become major free-agency players over the summer if they choose. Even if they don’t have eyes for outside players, incumbent free agents James Johnson and Dion Waiters need to be re-signed using cap space.
For Bosh, it’s a chance to just hit reset. He’s made it clear in the past he wants to continue playing. And if his health permits it, it’d be great to see him back on the floor somewhere else—an even more ideal resolution that, at this point, both Bosh and Miami can pull for.
