Why Chris Bosh's decision to stay in Miami was easier than you think

After it was largely assumed that Chris Bosh would accept a four-year, $88 million from the Rockets if LeBron James left the Heat, the All-Star big man is reportedly finalizing a five-year, $118 million deal to remain in Miami, which became available to him with James out of the picture.

It's easy for the average fan to question Bosh committing the next half-decade of his career to a now depleted team in Miami instead of joining James Harden and Dwight Howard on what would be an instant contender in Houston, but it's also easy to see the reasoning behind Bosh's decision.

Essentially, Bosh has chosen the option that will see him earn an extra $30 million while continuing to live and work in Miami of all places. No uprooting himself and his family, no change of scenery, more money - where's the confusion?

Not to mention, it's not like Houston and their inferior financial offer would guarantee a better chance at ultimate success for Bosh. While the Rockets offer the obviously superior team at the moment, they also play in the unforgiving Western Conference, where 54 wins got them the fourth seed and a first round exit this past season.

A merely good team in the pathetic Eastern Conference, which the Heat can still be with Bosh, Dwyane Wade (if he re-signs), Josh McRoberts and perhaps another big acquisition - Carmelo Anthony, anybody? - has as good a chance of getting to The Finals as a great team in the West.

Bosh has understandably accepted the most lucrative offer he can possibly receive at this point in his career, in what will surely be the last huge-money deal he signs, and has put his faith in Pat Riley. It could be a lot worse than that.

For the Heat, a LeBron-less team giving Bosh max money through his 35th birthday isn't ideal, and no combination of players can replace LeBron James, but Miami is far from a lost cause. If they can re-sign Wade and land another star, they'll still be a factor in that aforementioned weak East.

If they overpay an aging and brittle Wade to pair with Bosh, fail to land another impact player this summer and face limited cap space going forward, a worst-case scenario that remains possible, then it will be time for the few Heat fans left post-LeBron to panic.

As for the Rockets, whiffing on Bosh is a massive disappointment considering the team just traded Jeremy Lin's expiring contract and a future first round pick in a cap clearing move. Getting Lin off the books is all well and good, but if the only positive move Houston makes this summer is re-signing Chandler Parsons well above his true market value, dumping Lin and a first rounder for essentially nothing will be a tough pill to swallow for Daryl Morey and co.

There's also the question of whether the Rockets should match Dallas' three-year, $46 million offer-sheet for Parsons at all. On one hand, losing Parsons without compensation after striking out in their pursuit of big name free agents and therefore getting nothing out of Lin's expensive expiring deal, would cement a disastrous off-season for the team. On the other hand, is committing approximately $53 million-plus to the trio of Parsons, Harden and Howard for the next few years conducive to the Rockets finding the final piece in a championship puzzle?

The Rockets, like the Heat, face some tough questions in the aftermath of being spurned by a major free agent. Chris Bosh, by comparison, made a pretty easy choice.