GM's cautious of Bosh's life-threatening blood clots: 'The risk is too great'

Chris Bosh wants nothing more than to return to the NBA after blood clots found in both his lung and calf in 2015 and 2016 prematurely ended his All-Star career.

The risk outweighs the reward for several NBA general managers, who certainly would be interested in bringing Bosh aboard were he given a clean bill of health. That may never be the case, unfortunately.

"If he was healthy, he'd be playing for the Miami Heat right now," said one anonymous GM to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. "The fact they determined it was not an option makes me say we're not going there."

"The risk is too great," added another GM. "We're talking about a life-threatening condition. Who wants to mess with that?"

Miami officially waived Bosh in July of last year, saving the organization roughly $25 million in salary for this season and next. The decision came after a medical review by both the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, which confirmed the Heat's worries that Bosh had suffered "a career-ending illness."

He's been extremely adamant since then that his days of playing basketball aren't over. It was just last month during an appearance on ESPN's "First Take" when Bosh disclosed that he was still working out regularly, holding on to the sliver of hope he'd one day be back.

He reiterated that sentiment to MacMullan.

"I'm going to give (playing) one more shot," he said. "That's all it is -- a shot."

Bosh is still only 33 years old, and even if he has played his last minute of NBA ball, his credentials over a 13-year span are undoubtedly worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. He captured back-to-back titles with the Heat in 2012 and 2013, was named to 11 All-Star teams with both Miami and the Toronto Raptors, was a member of the All-NBA second team in 2007, and won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008.

Across 893 games, Bosh averaged 19.2 points on 49.4 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, two assists, and a block with a player efficiency rating of 20.6.