Miami Heat’s 2016-17 Season Outlook Is Dire with Chris Bosh Reportedly out Again

Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat’s worst nightmares appear to be coming true. 

After the All-Star power forward’s 2015-16 campaign was cut short by a second bout with blood clots, he spent the offseason fighting back to playing shape, eager to contribute once more. Unfortunately, those comeback efforts have now been negated by further discoveries, as Barry Jackson first reported for the Miami Herald:

A complication has arisen in medical tests involving Heat forward Chris Bosh, derailing his attempted comeback, according to a source.

The complication involved evidence of some continued clotting and is believed to be related to one of two previous blood clot episodes. Those episodes sidelined Bosh after the All-Star break each of the past two seasons.

Though the complication is not considered life-threatening if treated, it requires medication and playing with it is considered unrealistic.

The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski is even revealing this could be the end of Bosh’s career in Miami:

Sources: Miami Heat increasingly believe Chris Bosh’s career with franchise is over. For months, Bosh hasn’t wanted to speak with Pat Riley.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) September 23, 2016

The first concern here should be Bosh’s health. He’s one of the NBA’s most unique characters and genuine personalities, and we should all wish him nothing but the best in his continued recovery efforts. His well-being needs to be his first priority, and his impact on the Heat’s competitiveness in 2016-17 is nothing more than a subsidiary issue. 

But that impact will be substantial now that Miami has to accept its new reality: Bosh might not play at all. 

Shifting Rotations

Along with Hassan Whiteside, Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow, Bosh was one of only four locks to begin games. He’d earned that right ever since coming to South Beach as part of the Big Three formed by himself, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and nothing about his healthy performance suggested he was in danger of severe regression. 

Now, everything is up in the air. 

Miami has two vastly different options for its sans-Bosh starting five: a small-ball lineup and a more traditional one. The former would keep the three aforementioned incumbents together but shift Winslow to the 4, allowing both Dion Waiters and Josh Richardson to line up on the wings.

But with Richardson still recovering from his MCL …

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