Heat president Pat Riley calls Chris Bosh's health an 'X-factor' this offseason
No one knows what's going to happen with Chris Bosh yet
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2 min read
In his end-of-season press conference, Miami Heat president Pat Riley said Wednesday that the organization is working with Chris Bosh to get him back on the court, but there is no timeframe for resolving his situation. He also said that Bosh's status will be an "X-factor" for what the Heat does this summer, and it's hard to evaluate how far the Heat are from contention. Bosh wasn't playing when Goran Dragic found his rhythm after the All-Star break, and it's unclear how coach Erik Spoelstra's adjustments to their pace and their offense would have worked if Bosh was healthy.
When it comes to Bosh's medical condition, Riley offered little clarity. Earlier this week, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that Miami fears he will be forced to retire.
"We, all of us, it's not just the Heat but the doctors and also Chris, are looking to proceed forward to find a way to get him back on the court," Riley said. "I think that's all we can say right now. We are very encouraged by trying to find a way over the next two or three months to find a protocol and a program that will get him back playing. That's always been our objective and we're in this together, so right now that's where we are. It's an X-factor when it comes to everything we plan on doing this summer, but I think first things first is to sidle up alongside Chris Bosh and see where we can go right to the end with this."
Riley called losing Bosh a "haymaker," and said that when it happened at the 2015 All-Star break, both he and the organization were "blindsided." The second time, the Heat were "in it eyes wide open with him," Riley said. He then reiterated that they want him to play again.
"It's going to have to be done in a way that we all feel good about it," Riley said. "It's two years in a row and it definitely has hurt the team but probably more so than anybody, he's the one that's suffering from it. And that's why Mickey [Arison] and myself, everybody in the organization and players, have great compassion and empathy for Chris right now. Because unless you've been in that real war like he gets into every night and you're competitive -- and he was having a great season, probably you could say his year he was, up to the All-Star break, our best player -- it's very difficult for any person to probably have to accept that he's gotta sit down and find out why, and then let's make a plan to see if we can get him back there."
The situation remains scary and the details remain murky. All that is clear here is that Miami wants to proceed with caution. That is absolutely the right thing to do.
