Miami Heat's Chris Bosh reacts during play against the San Antonio Spurs in the second quarter of Game 5 of their NBA Finals series in San Antonio, Texas, June 16, 2013.LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters
Chris Bosh said countless times in recent weeks that he did not want to leave Miami.
Not even LeBron James' departure changed his mind.
And shortly after the Heat took a King-sized hit, their future started coming together.
Bosh is staying in Miami, agreeing Friday to a five-year contract that will be worth about $118-million, said two people familiar with the deal. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither side had confirmed it publicly.
Keeping Bosh addresses one of the Miami's top priorities after getting the news earlier in the day that James was leaving the Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There's still plenty of work for Heat president Pat Riley to do, however. But first, he and the team lauded what James meant to them over the last four seasons.
"While I am disappointed by LeBron's decision to leave Miami, no one can fault another person for wanting to return home," Riley said in a statement Friday night. "The last four years have been an incredible run for South Florida, Heat fans, our organization and for all of the players who were a part of it. LeBron is a fantastic leader, athlete, teammate and person, and we are all sorry to see him go."
Next up for the Heat: More than likely, it's a deal with Dwyane Wade, who has spent all 11 of his NBA seasons in Miami. Wade and Miami were negotiating a new contract Friday, a move that was expected from the very moment that the 2006 NBA Finals MVP opted out of a deal that would have paid him about $42-million over the next two seasons.
"I know where I'm going," Wade told The AP on Thursday, one day before James let the world that he was going elsewhere.
While Miami is working to get a Wade deal finalized, it's unclear when Bosh will actually sign his contract. He's expected to be in Ghana until next week. Bosh is an All-Star who averaged 16.2 points on 52 per cent shooting last season, and now figures to potentially get many more shots in the Heat offensive scheme. For his career, Bosh has averaged 19.2 points in 11 NBA seasons.
This much is certain: There's no shortage of openings on the Heat roster.
Miami has agreed to deals with Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger, which should get finalized once the Heat figure how to allocate their spending now that James is gone. Guard Norris Cole was the only holdover from last season with a guaranteed contract, while young centre Justin Hamilton has a partially guaranteed deal and point guard Shabazz Napier came to the Heat on draft night.
Wade and Udonis Haslem, who also opted out with hopes it would help the team keep James, will almost certainly be back, and the team thinks highly of James Ennis, who played overseas last season. But that means a ton of slots in the locker room at AmericanAirlines Arena that is currently being renovated — a fitting metaphor if there ever was one — will be available between now and training camp.
Riley said the Heat mantra that he, managing general partner Micky Arison and coach Erik Spoelstra have cultivated will not be changing.
"Over the last 19 years, since Micky and I teamed together, the Miami Heat has always been a championship organization," Riley said. "We've won multiple championships and competed for many others. Micky, Erik and I remain committed to doing whatever it takes to win and compete for championships for many years to come. We've proven that we can do it and we'll do it again."