Lakers rumors: Chris Bosh a free agent option

After missing all of last season and the second-half of the previous two seasons due to complications with blood clots, Chris Bosh may be returning to basketball, and the Los Angeles Lakers are among his potential landing spots.

Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat are reportedly working out a deal that will rid the Heat of Bosh’s salary on the team’s salary cap.

Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel explains the move would ultimately free Miami of Bosh’s salary and allow the team to head into the June 22 draft with clarity about their cap situation.

Bosh, in turn, would become a free agent. Although the contract agreement and Bosh’s official release from the Heat is eminent, the chances of Bosh suiting up again for any team are purely hypothetical on account of his medical history.

Bosh has been adamant he would make a return to the NBA after being sidelined, but before the start of the 2016-17 campaign, he failed his preseason physical for Miami.

So far there is no guarantee Bosh will be healthy enough to play again, but for the purpose of this article let’s assume he will be cleared a take a look at the Lakers’ chances of signing him.

Los Angeles Lakers

Although Bosh is 33 years old, before his setback he was averaging 19.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game while shooting 36.5 percent from three.

Based on the power forward’s most recent stats and the fact that his time off wasn’t from a physical injury, he would definitely be a worthing signing for L.A. Having Bosh in the starting lineup would most likely move Julius Randle to the bench, but that would only make the Lakers’ second unit stronger and give Randle an elite veteran to learn from.

Usually a veteran free agent would want to sign with a team in contention for a title versus a rebuilding team, however, Bosh is a former client of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, which would give L.A. an advantage in signing the All-Star.

That’s not to mention Bosh is a two-time NBA champion who doesn’t need to ring chase.

Of course with players like Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng still on the books, in order for the Lakers to sign a player like Bosh, and potentially another top free agent, he’d need to be willing to sign a mid-level or even a veteran minimum contract versus trying to get the max.

Ideally, that wouldn’t be a problem considering he’s a high-risk signing due to the possibility of his blood clots returning and sidelining him again.

Add in the fact that he is still guaranteed his remaining $25.3 million salary for 2017-18 and $26.8 million salary for 2018-19 (covered by insurance) and he may be willing to sign a one-year deal with his former agent for a bargain.

After all, he hasn’t played a full season in three years and unfortunately has to prove he’s capable of it, but for prospective teams that’s an advantage.

Health of course, is the number one concern for Bosh and for any team willing to take a chance on him. But the biggest reason he would be a good fit in L.A. is because he and Pelinka already have a relationship, and the Lakers general manager will make Bosh’s health a top priority.

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Do you think Chris Bosh will lace them up again for the 2017-2018 season or do you think he is done for good? If he is cleared to play do you think the Lakers have a chance of signing him? Let us know what you think in the comments below!