NBA Free Agents 2014: Is Chris Bosh Planning to Leave Miami Heat Next Summer?
- Paul John Rivera
- Jan 31, 2014 06:17 PM EST
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The Miami Heat's vaunted "Big Three" could be on the verge of making their final NBA title run together this season as recent rumors suggest that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh will part ways this summer.
While the feared trio won two straight titles together and are gunning for three this year, it is widely believed that one of the three superstars will likely leave Miami to sign elsewhere in the offseason.
James is continuously being linked to his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, but ESPN analyst Chad Ford reported that it is Bosh, not the reigning Most Valuable Player, who is on his way out of South Beach this summer.
According to the report, Bosh is expected to attract strong interest from several teams in the offseason. Despite being labeled as the "third guy" in Miami, the 29-year-old power forward is still capable of being a top dog for another team.
Sources said that team officials and agents are convinced that Bosh, who is averaging 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game this season, could command a max contract this summer.
Bosh will likely accept such an offer and the opportunity to become the face of an NBA franchise again instead of settling for less and continuing as the third-best player with the Heat.
"From what I can gather talking to teams and agents around the league, it's Chris Bosh who is the most likely to leave. LeBron and Wade are so good, I think we all forget what a force Bosh can be. Lots of teams would give him the max and feature him in ways Miami can't. LeBron might leave, but I think the odds are in Miami's favor," Ford noted.
Several teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Phoenix Suns could be in the mix for Bosh in the offseason should he decide to opt out of his current contract with the Heat.
The Cavaliers, who will have enough cap space to sign a superstar in the offseason to pair up with a reportedly unhappy Kyrie Irving, are expected to pursue James first though before going after Bosh.
James has yet to entertain questions about his free agency plans after the current season, but previous reports suggested that a return to Cleveland is highly unlikely at this point, especially if the Heat win their third straight title this season.
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