The Miami Heat are "hopeful" that Chris Bosh will return next season

Dan Le Batard, who has many sources within the Miami Heat organization, initially was reporting that the Heat would force Chris Bosh into an early retirement due to fears that he'd never be cleared to play by the team's doctors.

On ESPN radio, he said:

(All quotes via NBC Sports)

What I know of private medical history, which is to say I have partial information because so much of this is private and guarded and protected, I don't know what's going to be different in six months about what's so right now. Bosh is going to think, six months from now, he's also going to be able to play. And the recurrence of clots is still going to be something that's problematic and that doctors might not clear him on. And so I'm sitting here looking at this, and everything that was the wrestling match during the postseason about getting Bosh back out there, I think it's going to exist and then, later on down the road, this is going to get messy where the Heat, I think - now, keep in mind, I'm saying this with partial information - but I think this is going to end up in a place where they're fighting over whether or not he retires.

However, later, he went on to say:

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 is committed to getting back, and the Heat are hopeful that that can be so

Could Le Batard have received new medical information? Or, was someone in the organization pushing him to sound a more optimistic approach? This whole situation with Bosh has been fraught with secrecy. Of course, the man's personal, private medical history is on the table, so it makes sense that the Heat would tread lightly around the issue. However, Bosh obviously not only still wants to play but still believes he can make a major impact. If the team's doctors won't clear him, what course of action would he have?

Either way, this will be a very intriguing story to follow as the offseason develops and as we inch closer the beginning of the 2016-2017 season.

(h/t Dan Le Batard show; h/t NBC Sports)