The Miami Heat are hopeful that their superstar power forward Chris Bosh would be available next season as the team wants to soften the blow of Dwyane Wade's exit to the Chicago Bulls this summer.
Bosh, who turned 32 last March, had been hampered by blood clot issues in the past two seasons and the Heat sees the disorder as a potentially life-threatening condition which forced them to prematurely shut him down for the season both times.
The fourth overall pick of the 2003 draft sat out the rest of the season following the All-Star break of the last two years and had been taking blood thinners to alleviate his illness. However, these same blood thinners are seen as a health risk when he steps on the court as a potential cut could result in serious blood loss. With that, he was not allowed by his mother team on the floor whenever he is taking the medication.
Bosh, who still has three years left in his five-year, $118.7 million contract with Miami, had expressed frustration about not having to play. He is reportedly eager to join his teammates on the court, especially during the most recent NBA playoffs when the Heat reached the Eastern Conference semifinals only to be defeated by the Toronto Raptors, 4-3, in the seventh game.
Fansided reported that "After fighting through blood clots in back-to-back seasons", Miami is "optimistic" that their number one power forward "will play in 2016-17".
One reason why they want Bosh to be available next season is the impending absence of their former team leader Wade, who had joined the Bulls this summer in a two-year, $47.5 million deal.
Without Wade, the Heat are set to lose a lot of firepower in offense and Bosh, who averages 19.2 points and shoots 49.4 percent from the field for his career, will be a huge boost in that department.
Basketball Insiders indicated that "team owner Micky Arison hinted at the possibility of a Bosh return" next season during his message to season ticket-holders that mentioned the name of the 11-time NBA All-Star.
"What won't change is the culture of this organization," wrote Arison in the statement. "The Miami HEAT is a Championship organization. I fully expect this team, from Pat Riley to Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, to our veterans Chris Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Goran Dragic and Josh McRoberts, to our returning young core of Hassan Whiteside, Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson, to the fresh faces joining the HEAT Family to continue our mantra of being the 'hardest working, best conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, nastiest team in the NBA.'"