A: First, I don't think you can consider Bosh in any part of the equation at this point. Not the Heat. Not Whiteside. Not any potential free agent. You just don't know, and there is absolutely no guarantee against a recurrence of the blood clotting if he does return. As for your main point, it comes down to what you consider "a little less." Does a little less mean starting at $17 million instead of $22 million? Because that's not only $5 million at the start, but something closer to $25 million over the course of the deal. And if you're talking a $20 million starting point instead of $22 million, I'm not sure that necessarily opens significant possibilities for the Heat. As for the actual math, Whiteside is allowed, in his experience range, a salary up to a maximum of 25 percent of the 2016-17 NBA salary cap, with current estimates running in the $90 million range.