Chris Bosh says he is hopeful of return this season
Don't count out Chris Bosh yet when it comes to a potential Miami Heat return this season.
The All-Star forward issued a statement Thursday through his publicist that said he is hopeful of rejoining the team, after being sidelined since Feb. 9 by a recurrence of the blood clots that had sidelined him for the second half of last season.
Bosh's statement:
"I know there have been many questions regarding my health and when I will play again. My situation this year has never been life threatening. I am feeling great and currently I do not have deep vein thrombosis.
"Together with the Miami Heat, I am working with doctors, exploring the best precautionary treatment options and taking every necessary step to make sure I am healthy for myself, my family and my team.
"I have been working out, training with the team, watching film of the games, walking through plays, and have attended home games despite not being visible to the public.
"I will continue to support my teammates in every way possible. I remain positive that I will be able to return this season. I truly appreciate everyone's concern and support."
Bosh has been a regular presence at AmericanAirlines Arena in recent days and weeks and has been making efforts to stay in basketball shape.
While Thursday's statement came through Bosh's publicist, the Heat have yet to offer comment on Bosh's status with the team. He remains on the Heat roster, under contract to the team through the 2018-19 season.
Should Bosh, 31, ultimately prove unable to resume his career, his salary would not come off the Heat's salary cap until the one-year anniversary of his final game played. He remains eligible for the Heat's playoff roster.
The Heat conclude their regular season April 13, with the NBA playoffs opening April 16.
Unlike when he was lost to the Heat at the 2015 All-Star break, Bosh's latest brush with clotting did not result in a clot traveling to his lung.
Bosh has not said whether he remains on blood thinners, a course of treatment that comes with a recommendation of avoiding contact athletics.
The Heat have gone 8-3 since Bosh has been sidelined, reworking their lineup, with Luol Deng moved to power forward and recently signed Joe Johnson replaced Deng at small forward.
Should Bosh return, the Heat, having move to an up-tempo style, could insert Bosh as their starting center, a position he played during championship seasons alongside Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Such a move would have Bosh replacing Amar'e Stoudemire as the starting center and would leave Hassan Whiteside as a reserve.
Bosh has been away from the game since a calf injury before the All-Star break led to a recurrence of the blood clotting that sidelined him for the second half of last season. He last played on Feb. 9, in a home loss to the San Antonio Spurs, then sat out the All-Star Game in Toronto and the 3-point contest on All-Star Saturday.
Asked before the start of the Heat's' current three-game trip if he has considered how his team's current approach would mesh with a player of Bosh's skills, coach Erik Spoelstra said there was no immediate need for such speculation.
"I'm in a day-to-day world," Spoelstra said, "and I think that's what everybody should be. It's really simplified my thinking. I talk to C.B. all the time, either via text or virtually every day. But we don't talk about style of play."
The Heat did not practice Thursday, instead holding a team meeting and video session in Chicago in advance of Friday's game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
iwinderman@tribpub.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman
