Chicago Bulls may consider Chris Bosh if cleared to play next season

Chris Bosh will likely be released by the Miami Heat on March 1 and the expected move could open the door to the 11-time All-Star forward being able to resume his NBA career next season.

The Chicago Bulls are said to be examining the possibility of adding Bosh, who turns 33 in March.

Bosh wasn't medically cleared to play this season due to blood clot issues and there is no guarantee he will he deemed healthy enough to play basketball next season.

But former Heat running mate Dwyane Wade is a member of the Bulls and the possibility of Wade exercising his player option to return to Chicago next season may increase if Bosh comes on board.

Bosh last played in a game on Feb. 9, 2016, so Miami can release him after Feb. 9 of this year to gain salary relief. His five-year, $118 million contract runs through the 2018-19 campaign.

But the Heat are planning to wait until after the playoff waiver deadline of March 1 to cut ties with Bosh. The team wants to assure that Bosh can't suit up in the postseason for a team this season.

Bosh has repeatedly been urged to retire but he has been reluctant to do so. He points out that it isn't about the money, it is about his love for basketball and his desire to play.

Bosh has averages of 19.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in 893 career NBA games with the Toronto Raptors and Miami. He averaged 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 53 games for the Heat in 2015-16 before the blood clots cut his season short.

There wasn't a decline in his skills prior to the blood clot issues, which could also factor in for a team like the Bulls being willing to take a shot and see if Bosh is healthy enough to resume his career.

But he failed his physical with the Heat in September and any team that passes Bosh in a physical will come under scrutiny -- especially if signed and he has a third bout with blood clot issues.