Blogtable: Impact of Bosh’s situation on Heat

Each week, we’ll ask our stable of scribes across the globe to weigh in on the most important NBA topics of the day.

What does the absence of Chris Bosh mean for the Miami Heat this season? And long term?

David Aldridge, NBA.com: Just a devastating loss this season, especially coming on the heels of Dwyane Wade’s departure to Chicago. Hard to see where the team’s leadership will come from this season in his absence. Long term, if Miami ultimately can take the remaining $75 million of Bosh’s deal off its cap, it could at least take a run at significant free agents next summer. It could turn out okay; there’s an unending stream of players enamored with South Beach. But that seems a long way away.

Steve Aschburner, NBA.com: All those folks who set their hair ablaze over the Big Three “distortion” of NBA team-building and life as we knew it, they’re barely carrying combs again and here that era already is over. LeBron’s gone, Wade’s gone and now Bosh is gone too, and media outlets are sending their hordes to the Bay Area for the even-shinier new thing.

Long term, I think the Heat will be better off for the abrupt endings with Bosh and franchise icon Dwyane Wade. With the Bulls giving Wade the fat, late-career, thank-you contract Miami figured to owe him, with a chunk of the $75 million remaining on Bosh’s contract in line for salary-cap relief in February, president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra can rebuild without those legacy costs. The Heat can focus fully on the future and the development of its next-generation guys, such as Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside. Bosh has been a tremendous player and a terrific leader for Miami, but more than just turning a page, this ends a chapter.

Fran Blinebury, NBA.com: For now, it means the Heat are in the running for the lottery and potentially the No. 1 pick in the 2017 draft. Long term, if he’s declared unable …

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