New CBA rule ensures Chris Bosh’s salary will not return to Miami Heat cap

The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh are nearing an agreement that will assure permanent cap relief.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the Miami Heat will be able to clear Chris Bosh’s salary while assuring that his salary is never reinstated to the team’s cap, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Ira Winderman

"With Bosh sidelined this past season following a failed preseason physical, after missing the second half of the previous two seasons due to blood clots, the Heat, NBA and National Basketball Players Association have been working toward a resolution that bridges aspects of the collective-bargaining agreement that expires June 30 and the one that goes into place on July 1.Under the CBA in place until June 30, a return to the league by Bosh could have reinstated his salary-cap hit to the Heat’s ledger over the remaining term of his contract, which expires after the 2018-19 season. However, under the CBA that goes into place July 1, once a medical panel comes to an agreement that it no longer considered safe for Bosh to continue his career, there no longer is the risk of Bosh’s cap charge or luxury-tax hit returning to the Heat’s book."

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Bosh’s remaining salary (more than $50 million) is guaranteed, and most of it will be paid by insurance. It will not impact Miami’s salary cap, and the team will be able to operate with certainty about it’s cap situation during the draft and free agency.

Under the rules of the previous CBA, had Bosh been waived by the Heat under the medical exception, but then returned to play in at least 25 games for another team, his cap hit would have been added back to Miami’s books.

The agreement will eliminate that risk. The Heat will operate without the possibility, and Bosh will still get paid in full off the books.

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The Heat are expected to have around $38 million in cap room with the relief, which at least puts them in play for the top free agents this summer, such as Utah’s Gordon Hayward. It could also provide enough cap space to re-sign key free agents James Johnson and Dion Waiters.