If Chris Bosh is going to keep playing in the NBA, it won’t be with the Miami Heat.
Miami Heat team president Pat Riley said he believes Chris Bosh’s career with the Miami Heat is over and that the team is no longer working toward Bosh’s return, according to multiple reports from media day.
Via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel:
"“We are not,” Riley said in his office at AmericanAirlines Arena. “I think Chris is still open-minded. But we are not working toward his return.“We feel that, based on the last exam, that his Heat career is probably over.”Asked if he felt Bosh’s NBA career was over, as well, Riley said, “that’s up to him.”"
Bosh last week failed a physical that both he and the team expected him to pass, reportedly due to recurring blood clot issues. Bosh has missed 59 games the past two seasons with blood clots.
The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reports that Bosh will not retire because of Riley’s comments.
Bosh is not going to retire now because Riley says won't be cleared.Not pursuing playing at this point,but as of weekend,not ready to retire
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) September 26, 2016
The Heat open training camp in the Bahamas Tuesday, and Bosh is not expected to be in attendance. The team recently signed center Keith Benson, giving the team 20 players going into camp, though they will be working with just 19.
Bosh recently debuted his documentary for Uninterrupted chronicling his recovery from his latest bout with clots. During the first episode of the series, Bosh remarked how he felt “written off” by team doctors last season. Riley disagreed with Bosh’s description.
Riley: "He was never just written off. That was a poor, poor statement on his part. B/c it besmirched our Drs, our efforts to find protocol"
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) September 26, 2016
Riley also dismissed any concerns that the Heat are aiming solely at getting Bosh salary cleared off the cap.
Pat Riley insists that the team was working I get Chris Bosh back on the court and was only focused on his health, not cap ramifications
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) September 26, 2016
Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo! Sports reported last week that Bosh and the Heat had not communicated this summer, although Riley said he tried reaching out to his all-star power forward.
Riley: "He was contacted throughout the summer by myself, Coach Spo and Micky and he decided not to talk to any of us until he was clear."
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 26, 2016
Next: Bosh in documentary says 'I can still play the game'
What now?
For now, this provides some closure to the Heat in regards to Bosh. The team will move on, and be looking for a new starting power forward during training camp.
The candidates include Josh McRoberts, Derrick Williams, James Johnson and Luke Babbitt. All but McRoberts are new to the team this summer. McRoberts could provide some play making ability, while Williams and Johnson are the most athletic of the group. If the team wants more three-point shooting in the starting unit, they could opt to go with Babbitt, a 40 percent career three-point shooter.
When Bosh went down after the All-Star break last season, the Heat played small with Luol Deng starting at power forward. While the Heat may not start games that way, they will often play small this season, this time with Justise Winslow at the 4.