The Miami Heat have Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade both ready for training camp heading into the season and the health of those two players could be the key to success this year. Miami has been shopping trades with Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen this summer, but a trade is unlikely for those players before the season starts.
Miami is coming into the season with high expectations after missing the playoffs last year and both Wade and Bosh are coming in healthy. Wade dealt with some knee issues last season, while Bosh had a huge health scare with a blood clot that was found on his lung. According to the Associated Press, Bosh has been fully cleared for training camp and basketball activities following his recovery and he is on track to play in the season opener for Miami.
Bosh missed most of the second half of the season with the clot issue and now he is back and ready to play. Head coach Erik Spoelstra said that Bosh has been cleared to practice and that he is "no longer on bloodthinners" heading out of the summer. Josh McRoberts is also coming back healthy and it comes after he missed most of last season while dealing with a knee injury and surgery. Getting Bosh back is he, but McRoberts is also a key player, as he adds some depth to the bench. Wade also reportedly will have "no restrictions" on how much he plays, according to Spoelstra.
Miami has the chance to make a run in the east again, as the team has added some solid talent in the offseason that should help the bench. The team signed Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green as free agents and the draft pick of Justise Winslow could be a great move for the team. Winslow slipped down to Miami in the draft and the team has high hopes for him coming out of Duke. Winslow adds some depth for Luol Deng and he can help come in as part of the second group for the Heat past the starting lineup without much of a talent drop-off.
Miami has been pushing deals for Chalmers and Andersen this summer, as the team has been looking to lower their luxury tax bill for the season. The Miami Herald reports that the team has not been able to find deals for the players that are suitable and it's unlikely that a trade happens before training camp opens. Ira Winderman reports that Miami wants to take a "long look" at guards Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson before making a final decision on trading Chalmers.
Chalmers is making $4.3 million and Andersen is making $5 million and both players are in the final years of their contracts. The Heat would love to make a move with Andersen and the big man said earlier in the summer to the Sun-Sentinel that he is not bothered by the talk, calling it "all business." Miami has solid depth even if the players are traded, but keeping Andersen and Chalmers would give the team a strong second group of players behind the starting lineup. Both players could be targets at the trade deadline if they are not moved now.
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