Spoelstra hopes to maintain close relationship with Bosh
Chris Bosh's departure from Miami had very little to do with head coach Erick Spoelstra, who was at the mercy of team president Pat Riley with regards to the no-win situation with the 11-time All-Star.
In a piece for Uninterrupted, Bosh revealed that he learned of his failed physical through the media, and that Riley didn't extend him the courtesy of a call or text.
With the relationship between Bosh and the Heat perhaps strained beyond repair, Spoelstra - who captured two titles with Bosh and the "Heatles" - still hopes to stay close with his former player.
"My thought's don't change. And they won't change," Spoelstra said Saturday when asked about Bosh, according to the Miami Herald's Manny Navarro.
"I love Chris Bosh, his family. I said this so many times, Chris was very important to me as a head coach. With those teams, he was somebody I leaned on. That extended outside the lines. It's something I really have enjoyed and my hope is that the relationship can continue."
Related: Bosh pens heartfelt thank-you note to Heat fans
It's not looking good for Bosh in terms of returning to action, as he continues battling blood clots that have derailed his previous two campaigns.
Bosh still wants to play, and has suggested using a blood thinner that would be out of his system prior to tipoff, lessening the chances of something catastrophic happening on the hardwood - but the Heat never bit.
He averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds on 46.7 percent shooting, prior to being held out last season.