The HEAT say they only care about Chris Bosh’s health, but this move certainly seems like they want to make sure he can’t help a team make the playoffs if he was ever cleared to play.
The most likely course of action as of now in this murky, sad situation, per sources all around it: The Heat wait until after March 1 to waive Bosh, so that he is not eligible to appear in the postseason for any team that signs him. At that point, Bosh’s mammoth salary would vanish from Miami’s cap sheet, freeing Riles to plop his rings in front of one or two stars this summer.
Bosh wants to play, and some team will absolutely sign him for the minimum — even if it’s just for this season. Bosh is still going to get all his money from Miami, and suitors will try to coax him into signing through 2017-18.
From the business side it makes sense to wait, but you can also understand why Bosh feels like he is being held hostage as well.