It appears the Miami Heat expect Chris Bosh to play next season after all.

Just days after it was reported that the Heat feared Bosh would never play again, ESPN's Dan Le Batard says otherwise.

“I just got a text saying that Bosh should be able to play next season. So, the Heat expect Bosh to be able to play next season. What I'm telling you is that Bosh committed to getting back, and the Heat are hopeful that can be so.”

The 32-year-old veteran was sidelined during the All-Star break for the second consecutive year due to another issue with blood clots. Prior to his ailment, Bosh had been leading the team in scoring with 19.1 points per game. He had also just been selected to his 11th consecutive All-Star game.

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There is little doubt that Bosh's injury affected the Heat in the postseason. While the team was able to have sustainable success in the regular season without the big man, they eventually fell in seven games to the Toronto Raptors during the semi-finals of the playoffs. Due to Bosh's and Hassan Whiteside's ailments, Miami was forced to start 6-foot-7 Justise Winslow at center during the final two games of the series.

If Bosh can return healthy for the 2016-17 season, it's plausible that the Heat become the second biggest threat in the Eastern Conference for next year.

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