Chris Bosh admits he nearly signed for the Houston Rockets before choosing to return to Miami.
The All-Star power forward turned down a four-year, $88 million (Dh323.25m) deal from Houston – a similar annual salary to one he has now after re-signing with the Heat on a five-year, $118m (Dh433.5m) deal.
Bosh would have shifted the balance in the West, placing the Rockets at the top of the conference alongside the Oklahoma City Thunder and defending champion San Antonio Spurs. Instead, the 30-year-old decided to remain in Miami where he’s made his home after arriving in 2010 from Toronto.
“It was close. I’m not going to lie,” Bosh said on Miami radio station FM 104.3. “It was close. It was a weird situation because we were waiting so long and I didn’t know what was going on.
“I think you’re always in a situation where it is close even if you don’t leave because teams got very aggressive on me. And I guess as soon as LeBron (James) made up his mind, that’s when everything could fall in line. But I was just waiting, so I didn’t know what was going on.”
Bosh waited on James’ decision and announced he would stay with the Heat just hours after his teammate revealed he was returning to Cleveland.
“The longer it dragged out, the more I figured this could happen,” said Bosh. “When it happened, of course I was surprised and shocked and everything. But after a while, I can understand. I can’t say I’m surprised, but you just move on. It got me excited for the next chapter.”
Along with Bosh who said Miami can now “play with a chip on our shoulder”, team president Pat Riley believes the Heat will remain competitive next season.
Despite losing James, a four-time MVP, the franchise made moves in free agency, adding Luol Deng, Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger while still retaining Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Chris Andersen, Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem.
“We picked up the phone and went to work,” Riley said. “Sometimes, things happen that you don’t like, but you have to move on. I feel really good about where we are right now at this moment. I feel we are up to the challenge and will be as competitive as anyone in the Eastern Conference.”
Miami have reached the NBA Finals four-straight years, winning two titles during that span. Riley, who’s also won five championships as a head coach and one as a player, is looking forward to the challenge of continuing their success.
“It’s fired me up,” he said of the tumultuous offseason. “I don’t like to get beat in anything.”