Chris Bosh was close to signing a four-year, $88 million deal with the Houston Rockets, but ultimately decided to remain with the Miami Heat on a five-year, $118 million contract.

Bosh would have returned to his home state of Texas to form a Big 3 with Dwight Howard and James Harden.

"I still had to finish conversations with the Heat," Bosh said of those hectic hours on July 11, when he handled his negotiations by phone from Africa, where he was on a vacation and promotional tour. "Everybody was aware, all parties were aware. It was always continuing conversations. I never made any commitments. I never wanted to put anybody in the position to make them feel like I said something and I reneged on the whole thing. So I just kept it open.

"LeBron (James) made his choice and then that kind of cleared things up, as far as negotiations are concerned."

Bosh had spoken with management and players on the Rockets.

"I talked to everybody," he said. "I like to get a feel for everybody, feel them out, see what they're thinking and just hear it from them."

Bosh admits that money was a factor in his decision to stay with the Heat.

"It's always business," he said. "Nothing is ever personal. I think 100 percent of those dudes would have taken the deal I took.

"It's not always about money," Bosh said. "But you do want your full market value. If you work your butt off to get to a certain point, you want to be rewarded for that."