Miami Heat star Chris Bosh believes winning a third straight NBA title is the key to keeping him, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade together past the 2013-14 season. With the impending repeater tax and players' abilities to exercise early termination options, conceded changes could come to Miami if the Big 3 is unable to win its third championship.
After this season, the Heat could look drastically different. Miami has no guaranteed contracts on its books and there's the looming possibility of James, Wade and Bosh not all returning for the 2014-15 season.
While James has said his only focus is on the season ahead, Bosh is confident the team's core will be back - if they win a third straight title.
"With everybody being under contract and having no tomorrow, it's kind of exciting because we know what we have to do for one and then, two, it's like it helps you focus on what you need to do in that moment instead of next year or whenever," Bosh told the Miami Herald. "If we take care of business, we know everything is going to be all good. So, we just have to take that mentality and that kind of erases all the doubt."
As the super-team nears the end of their contracts with Miami, the team's future is uncertain - especially if Bosh remains inconsistent on the court and Wade continues struggling with knee injuries. The eventual repeater tax and the restrictions on over-the-apron teams would also make it difficult, if not impossible, to keep three big-name stars on the same team and field a competitive supporting cast.
"I couldn't believe it," Bosh told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Wednesday. "I was like, 'Man it's been four years already? But we're professionals. We know it comes with the job. We can't do anything about it. We just have to make sure we take care of our business, stay together and just really answer the call to adversity when it comes.
"... Everybody wants to know what we're going to do (after the season). Yeah, I get it. Everything depends on this season. If we win, cool. If we lose, that's when it's like 'What if?'"
