Chris Bosh said countless times in recent weeks that he did not want to leave Miami.
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.
Lakers acquire Lin from Rockets
The Lakers have acquired point guard Jeremy Lin from the Houston Rockets, along with the Rockets’ first-round draft pick next year, according to a person familiar with the situation. The Lakers will send cash and rights to undisclosed overseas player to the Rockets.
The Rockets were desperate to unload Lin to give them room to make a maximum-contract offer to free-agent forward Chris Bosh.
The Lakers have not officially been told they are out of the running for free-agent forward Carmelo Anthony and still have enough money to offer him close to a maximum contract if they renounce Ryan Kelly, Kent Bazemore and Kendall Marshall.
But then Pau Gasol would have to take a huge pay cut to $2.7 million to stay with the Lakers. He made $19.3 million last season. The $2.7 million is the so-called salary-cap “room exception.”
Suns get Thomas in sign-and-trade
PHOENIX — Two people with knowledge of the situation said the Phoenix Suns agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Sacramento Kings for point guard Isaiah Thomas.
The people, who sought anonymity because the deal has not been officially announced, said Thomas is signing a four-year, $27 million contract. In exchange, the Kings get the draft rights to center Alex Oriakhi, a second-round draft pick of the Suns in 2013.
By wire sources