Dorell Wright News

Dwyane Wade will remain in Miami on one condition. He wants the Heat to become a championship contender again, the quicker the better.

Instead of packing up rookies and young free agents for the annual trip to Orlando, the Heat will bypass summer league to take a home-school approach to improvement.

For more Sun-Sentinel coverage of the Miami Heat, click here . Previous entry: Allen Iverson a later-rather-than-now issue for Heat Next entry: Back to main page July 04, 2009 Money for nothing: Expiring contracts > Posted by Ira Winderman on July 4, 2009 03:37 AM Jermaine O'Neal may never be this valuable again in his career.

While the Heat is not expected to make a splash, or at least an immediate splash, in free agency, coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday he believes his team already is ahead of the curve when it comes to injecting talent.

When free agency opens at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, the Heat won't be in the running for high-profile players such as Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson, Ron Artest and Rasheed Wallace.

Megadeal madness wasn't expected to break out in the offices at AmericanAirlines Arena after midnight Wednesday to commence the start of NBA free agency.

Pat Riley is in charge of procurement. That part of the free-agency equation Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is leaving to the team's president.

In the last 10 years, international players have been the go-to guys on a number of NBA teams, including the newest champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.

How do you think Jack McClinton would fare in the NBA? Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.

More than a month after the Heat's final game, forward James Jones remains uncertain about the approach he will take with the right wrist that kept him out for the first half of the season.

The Heat has begun its pre-draft workouts, although one has to wonder about the vigor behind the process, considering the team's lone draft picks in June currently are at Nos.

Now that the Heat has gone from a 15-win afterthought to a legitimate team it has to continue to progress next season to be on track for a title run in two years , when it has money to spend in free agency.

Here's why: The Heat believes it has a decent chance to sign a top 2010 free agent, even if it cannot trade for one before; envisions Beasley as a future All-Star who can be used at small forward and power forward; and likes having a potential star earning modest money , especially with the possibility of two maximum contracts in 2010-11 . Neither ...

Pat Riley always talks about chips. I appreciate the perspective, that if you have something of value, you don't want to simply discard it for nothing in return.

"He can play that spot, there's no doubt," Riley said. "There's some power small forwards in this league.

Washington's newest assistant, Raphael Chillious , is expected to begin work this week.

Miami Heat reserve forward Jamario Moon has been ruled out of tonight's Game 4 of this Eastern Conference first-round best-of-seven NBA playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks due to a strained right groin and abdomen.

ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard Mario Chalmers, Shooting guard Dwyane Wade, Small forward James Jones, Power forward Michael Beasley, Center Jermaine O'Neal. Bench -- Center Joel Anthony, Guard Daequan Cook, Guard Chris Quinn, Center Jamaal Magloire, Forward Yakhouba Diawara, Center Mark Blount, Forward Dorell Wright, Guard Luther Head, Forward ...

The Miami Heat has no plans for covert activity when it comes to securing a copy of the Atlanta Hawks ' playbook in this first-round playoff series.

Dwyane Wade is asked about kid stuff. He smiles. And then the smile dissipates. Child's play has proven to be no easy game for the Heat shooting guard.