Report: Bosh pitched blood-thinner strategy to clear him for playoffs

Basketball fans will never know how far the Miami Heat could have advanced in this year's playoffs with Chris Bosh in the lineup, with the All-Star forward being forced to sit since Feb. 9 due to blood clots.

Bosh and his camp certainly made an effort to get him back on the floor in time for the postseason, coming up with strategies involving his blood-thinner regimen to make him less of a liability during games.

The idea of Bosh taking his blood thinners early enough in the morning that they would be out of his system by tip-off was explored, a team source told the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.

The medication would be gone after 8-12 hours, lessening the risk for Bosh. The problem, though, is that it's dangerous for someone on blood thinners to start bleeding, and with no real guarantee that Bosh would be fine, the Heat organization decided to reject the proposition.

The team's doctors are reportedly worried that his condition will never allow him to be cleared to return, and that he may even be forced to retire due to medical reasons.

If that were to happen, Bosh would still be owed the $75 million he's set to earn over the final three years of his contract, although the Heat would make some back through insurance.

Bosh averaged 19.1 points on 46.7 percent shooting, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 53 regular-season appearances for the Heat.