Report: Heat, Bosh working toward buyout that assures cap relief

After sitting out the entire 2016-17 campaign due to being ruled medically unfit to play, former All-Star power forward Chris Bosh is working toward a buyout agreement with the Miami Heat that would also assure salary-cap relief for the team, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The Heat, the NBA, and the NBPA have reportedly been working toward a solution that combines elements of both the old and new collective bargaining agreement, which would allow Miami to enter next month's draft with certainty about its cap situation, and to permanently clear Bosh's salary from its ledger.

Under the expiring CBA, should Bosh later return to the NBA, his salary-cap hit - which has two years remaining - could have been added back to the Heat's books. Under the new CBA, that risk would be gone should a medical panel rule it's unsafe for Bosh to play - something that apparently could be applied early in this instance.

Assuming Bosh's salary is cleared from Miami's books, the Heat would have roughly $37 million in cap space to work with this offseason, giving them enough room to sign a big name or two come July.

Bosh will still be guaranteed both his $25.3-million salary for next season and his $26.8-million salary for 2018-19, with insurance covering the majority of the payments, according to Winderman.

Despite missing the past 15 months with blood clot complications, the 33-year-old Bosh has stated on numerous occasions that he still plans to eventually return to the NBA.

The 6-foot-11 big man last played during the 2015-16 campaign, when he averaged 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists on 46.7 percent shooting in 53 games.