2012 NBA Playoffs: Chris Bosh's Future in Miami Could Depend on Winning Title

The 2012 NBA Playoffs will start with the Miami Heat favored to win the title. While the spotlight will be on LeBron James and whether he will translate his regular season dominance to the postseason, the real story line of Miami's championship may be what failing to win a title might mean for Chris Bosh's future on the Heat.

By most measures, Bosh is a fantastic basketball player. He has averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds in his nine-year career, and has five NBA All-Star selections.

Bosh has the skill set of a basketball player who should be the focal point of an offense. But the focal points of the Heat offense are James and Dwyane Wade. Bosh is reduced to filling the role of a complementary player. Unfortunately for Bosh, he does not possess the skill set of a complementary player.

Complementary players are important elements of championship teams. Robert Horry, Bruce Bowen, James Posey and Lamar Odom are examples of complementary players who were integral to their teams’ championships. The offense doesn't revolve around these guys, but when asked to, they knock down open shots, rebound, are active on the defensive end, make hustle plays, take charges and fit in on the court in a way that allows the superstar players to do their thing.

Bosh is a talented basketball player, but much of his value derives from what he does with the ball in his hands. If Bosh is not scoring, he can become invisible on the court. He is not a great rebounder, is not a tough defender, and is not a hustle player. In short, he is not qualified to be a complementary player.

With James and Wade, the Heat have enough scoring. What the Heat lack are strong complementary players. Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and Shane Battier—great role players in their younger days—are all struggling to either stay healthy or produce on a consistent basis.

As much as the media may make James the scapegoat if the Heat fail to win a title, a lack of reliable complementary players may very well be the Heat’s undoing. Failing to win a championship for a second straight year, after promising multiple titles, might lead to roster changes in Miami. The Heat may decide that moving Bosh would be their best option for infusing the roster with the right mix of complementary players.

Miami would receive high interest in a possible Bosh deal. In his last year in Toronto, Bosh averaged 24 points per game. Good for ninth in the NBA.  Teams know that Bosh can be the focal point of their offense.

By moving Bosh, Miami can get back players who will be effective contributors to the team while allowing James and Wade do the superstar thing. The Heat can finally have players who grab the rebounds and make the tough nosed plays that no one on the team currently does.