As the sports world awaits word from free agent LeBron James on what team he will play for next season; his teammate last year, Chris Bosh, is making plans of his own, and they may not include the Miami Heat.
According to ESPN’s Chris Broussard and Brian Windhorst, if LeBron does leave the Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he will also be leaving Miami to join the Houston Rockets. Houston has been pursuing Bosh with a max contract (4-years, $88 million) to join the team and form a Western Conference Big Three with James Harden and Dwight Howard.
Houston still has plenty to overcome if it is to sign Bosh. First, LeBron obviously has to choose to go back to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Then, the Rockets must clear out the contract of point guard Jeremy Lin to have enough salary cap space to sign Bosh.
That process in Houston would have to be expedited because restricted free agent Chandler Parsons agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. According to ESPN, Houston has three days to match the contract. However, for Bosh to fit into the plans, Houston has to sign Bosh first and then match the Parsons contract to make everything fit into salary cap requirements.
If James and Bosh leave Miami as early as Thursday, the team that has been to four straight NBA Finals will be gone and the Heat will be in full-fledged rebuilding mode with few assets to work with for the foreseeable future.
