Riley, Heat are not planning on ailing Bosh’s return
Rose not worried about rape trial
MIAMI — Chris Bosh has almost certainly played his final game for Miami, with the All-Star forward’s latest health setback convincing the Heat that his plan to play again is no longer feasible.
Just like that, the last remaining piece of Miami’s “Big Three” grouping is gone.
Heat President Pat Riley delivered the news Monday, revealing that the team is essentially out of options with Bosh — especially after he failed a physical last week and wasn’t able to get cleared by team and other doctors to get back on the floor.
“Chris is still open-minded,” Riley said. “But we are not working toward his return.”
Bosh did not offer any immediate reaction to Riley’s words. He released another video through LeBron James’ “Uninterrupted” digital platform — Bosh’s method of getting his message out in recent weeks — a couple hours after Riley spoke, but there was no mention of what the Heat said about his status.
“It’s not a mention of if I’m going to play again — it’s when,” Bosh posted Monday to Twitter.
If so, it doesn’t seem like it’ll happen in Miami, and teammates said they were disappointed by the news.
“I never thought it was going to go that way,” Heat point guard Goran Dragic said. “I’m always a positive guy. It’s hard to accept that because CB, first of all, he’s a great friend, a great teammate. This morning when I found out, I was in shock. But the health is first. He’s got a beautiful family and he’s got to take care of them.”
ROSE: Derrick Rose says he isn’t worried about a rape trial that is to start next week because he feels he “didn’t do anything wrong.”
Rose says he is instead focused on his first season with the Knicks.
A woman sued Rose last year in California, contending the former MVP and two of his friends raped her in August 2013 while she was incapacitated after a night of drinking.
Rose and the others say they had consensual sex with her that night.
The civil trial is to begin Oct. 4 — barring any settlement — the day the Knicks play their exhibition opener in Houston.
LEBRON: LeBron James says he plans to stand during the national anthem, but he supports San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel in protest.
James has always been outspoken on social issues. He said Monday he intends to stand while “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played before games because “that’s who I am, that’s what I believe.” The NBA superstar, however, admires Kaepernick’s “peaceful” handling of the situation.
A father of three, James has been disturbed enough by recent shooting to fear the day his 12-year-old son, LeBron Jr., gets a driver’s license and can be out on his own.
“You tell your kids if you just apply and if you just listen to the police that they will be respectful and it will work itself out,” he said. “You see these videos that continue to come out, and it’s a scary-ass situation that if my son calls me and says that he’s been pulled over that I’m not that confident that things are going to go well and my son is going to return home.”
LAKERS: Nick Young took a long look around the Lakers’ bustling practice gym Monday, surveying the large gathering of cameras, reporters and teammates with a sardonic smile.
“It’s kind of boring in here,” the veteran guard said.
For all the hubbub and optimism around the Lakers as they returned for a new season, the LA native realized something was missing.
For the first time since 1995, the Lakers are heading into training camp without Kobe Bryant.
The third-leading scorer in NBA history is ensconced in retirement in Orange County, his 60-point farewell game fading into legend with each passing week. Bryant left behind a franchise that must return from a team-worst 17-65 season with a new coach, several new players and a young core seeking an identity.
“It was all about Kobe,” point guard D’Angelo Russell said of his rookie season. “Now it’s a different headline. It’s about the young guys, the coaching staff. There’s so many more headlines.”
CLIPPERS: Paul Pierce says this season with the Los Angeles Clippers will be his last as an NBA player.
Pierce made the announcement Monday in a posting on The Players Tribune . He turns 39 next month and says “it’s time to move on from the game of basketball” and says he will take time to savor every moment that this season brings.
This will be Pierce’s 19th season in the NBA. The 10-time All-Star forward spent his first 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics, and has since played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and the Clippers. WIZARDS: Washington guard John Wall will be limited at training camp after undergoing knee surgery over the summer and the team has no timeline for his return.
The 26-year-old All-Star says he’s feeling great and has been able to play 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 with teammates. Coach Scott Brooks doesn’t know if Wall will play in any preseason games.
Wall and Brooks insist they’re “in no rush” with the focus on the point guard getting fully healthy. In May, Wall had a procedure on the patella tendon in his left knee and an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.