Keith Askins News

The temptation would be to credit Dwyane Wade and his 43-point performance as the big key to Friday's victory.

Early in the fourth quarter of the Heat's 109-100 victory over Indiana on Saturday, Miami center Joel Anthony caught a bounce pass under the basket, maneuvered to the other side of the rim, stretched out his ...

First the perspective: Before Friday night's 99-83 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center, the Miami Heat was 1-20 all-time in San Antonio, with the lone victory 12 years ago.

A year after entering Miami Heat training camp as a longshot prospect, Joel Anthony has moved into the mix for significant minutes this season at center.

Although he didn't get much of a chance to show it in Friday's U.S. Olympic exhibition while playing alongside Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp on the Canadian national team, Anthony has a future in the league.

How taxing is it to rebuild from the NBA's cellar?

Heat President Pat Riley might soon find out.

Despite a goal of avoiding the NBA's luxury-tax threshold of $71.2 million in 2008-09 payroll, the Heat, just four days into the offseason signing period, already is at $68 million.

That figure includes the contracts of Joel Anthony, Marcus Banks, Michael Beasley, Mark Blount, Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook, Udonis Haslem, James Jones, Stephane Lasme, Shawn Marion, Dwyane Wade and the qualifying offer in place to Dorell Wright, as well as the $1.7 million payoff to released guard Smush Parker.

How much of a drag does five games in five days become? By Friday, virtually every NBA general manager had vacated the premises at the Orlando Pro Summer League.

The Heat signed former Portland forward James Jones on Wednesday, filling its need for a long-range shooter.

Before he rebuilds his starting lineup, Heat President Pat Riley plans to restore his team's depth.

With the league's personnel moratorium to end at midnight, Riley said addressing his bench would be a priority.

'We have to build our depth right now, first,' he said at halftime of Monday's 94-70 summer-league victory over the Bulls. 'I think that's the first priority, before you make a big move.'

Riley hinted that the Heat's biggest offseason moves would come on the trade market, saying it is unlikely he would spend the entire $6 million mid-level exception on a single player.

Forward Michael Beasley and guards Daequan Cook and Mario Chalmers will headline the Heat's Summer League team, which will plays five games in five days beginning Monday in Orlando.

Second-year guard Daequan Cook and highly touted rookies Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers are among 17 players on the Miami Heat's summer-league roster.

Kansas guard Mario Chalmers is shown during last season's Final Four, where he was the most outstanding player.

In Thursday's edition of The News Courier, the story about Richard Hendrix stated he would be the second player from Athens High School to play professional sports.

Miami has the No. 2 pick in the June 26 draft, and team officials have been visiting, and plan to visit, a number of the top players, including F Michael Beasley , G Derrick Rose , G O.J. Mayo , C Brook Lopez , ...

Atlanta Hawks assistant coach David Fizdale, a former Heat assistant video coordinator, will join Erik Spoelstra's Heat coaching staff.

For years the Heat has been a take-the-charge team. That, new coach Erik Spoelstra said, won't change amid a planned crackdown by the NBA .

“But I think they respect an assistant who has been around and been through all the travels. Most players want to win. If they really believe you are a guy who can help them, they will accept you.”

Erik Spoelstra doesn't have the kind of basketball credentials that can mean instant credibility with NBA players who might view him skeptically as a first-time head coach.

Spoelstra, the Heat's new coach, never played in the NBA. Of the league's 27 head coaches (three positions are open), 19 have played in the NBA.

He was a pretty good player at the University of Portland, spent two seasons with a pro team in Germany, and then caught on with the Heat as video coordinator and self-described 'computer geek.' Thirteen years and a few job titles later, Pat Riley promoted him as his successor. Read more

“I've seen him do the necessary things to make us winners and I believe that with his focus on being president and his commitment to the team, we will once again become a contender.”

Pat Riley's worst season as coach of the Miami Heat will be his last.

The Hall of Famer resigned as coach Monday but remains team president. Erik Spoelstra, a 37-year-old assistant, will succeed Riley and become the NBA's youngest current coach. Spoelstra has never been a head coach at any level outside the NBA's summer league.

Miami finished the season with the NBA's poorest record (15-67) and, by far, the worst of Riley's 25-year career.

"I look forward to the challenge," said Spoelstra, who received word of the decision over the weekend. Read more