Pat Riley: Miami Heat's immediate future rests on Dwyane Wade's decision

Source: SunSentinel.com

MIAMI - Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Thursday his team may still attempt to buy a first-round pick in next week's NBA Draft, but that any potential roster overhaul would not come until the team gets a sharper read on Dwyane Wade's future.

Wade is eligible to sign an extension starting July 12, or the team's star shooting guard otherwise could become a free agent on July 1, 2010.

"I'm going to do the best sales job I can do," Riley said. "When the time comes, we're going to make him an offer.

"What we do going forward is going to be predicated on that."

Riley said the Heat otherwise would wait until a year from now for any major overhaul, when it could have the salary-cap space to sign multiple star players.

"I don't know if I want to change this team that much," he said. "Keeping the team together might be the thing until we can make the move in '10."

As for moving up from the team's lone selections at Nos. 43 and 60 in the second round of next week's draft, Riley said, "On draft day, money talks. The possibility is there. It depends on who is on the board."

Teams may offer a maximum of $3 million in any NBA transaction.

Riley said teams mostly have been angling for future first-round picks in return for a first-round pick next week, but he said that is not a course he prefers.

"They want future picks," he said, "and I don't want to give up future picks. There may not be much activity in the draft for us."

The Heat's first-round pick is in the hands of the Timberwolves as a result of the 2007 acquisition of guard Ricky Davis.

"Was it a horrible trade?" Riley said. "Yes, it was a horrible trade."

While the draft is loaded with prospects at point guard, and while the Heat is lacking at that position, Riley said he might bypass the draft in favor free agency when it comes to support for 2008 second-round pick Mario Chalmers.

"You probably don't want to have another rookie," he said.

On other personnel moves, Riley said the Heat would extend qualifying offers to forward Jamario Moon and center Joel Anthony, allowing the team to match outside offers for the restricted free agents at the July 1 start of free agency.

Still, with the team within $300,000 of the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax on excessive payrolls, Riley said the Heat might be limited to carrying only 13 players next season, as opposed to the maximum of 15.

He said unless the Wade extension is resolved, the team also would not offer free-agent contracts that extend beyond the end of next season.

Riley also downplayed forward Michael Beasley preferring to play at a weight lighter than typical power forwards.

"He is a three-four," Riley said, offering comparisons to the Orlando Magic's Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. "Michael has the same skills."

As for his own status, Riley brushed aside recent reports linking him to coaching opportunities elsewhere.

"No, I'm not interested in coaching again," he said. "I really think it'd be too much to pick up and move. I've had enough."

Bosh Interested in Miami

The Heat's interest in Chris Bosh apparently is mutual. A friend of the Toronto power forward said Bosh has interest in playing for Miami, which would love to add him via trade this summer or free agency in 2010.

Bosh assuredly will dismiss any report linking him to another team because he doesn't want to upset the Raptors and doesn't need to decide his future for 13 months. But the friend said playing in Miami appeals to him.

With Bosh announcing he will test free agency in 2010, a competing executive who spoke to Raptors president Bryan Colangelo said Toronto appears open to considering offers for Bosh and likely would consider a package that includes Michael Beasley -- if the Heat overcomes reluctance to trade Beasley.

There are good reasons not to trade Beasley. For starters, Miami has a good chance to lure Bosh in 2010 free agency. And with the salary cap expected to drop in 2010, the Heat -- if it can sign Bosh and Dwyane Wade next summer -- would not have money left to sign a third player as skilled as Beasley. The risk is that if Bosh is traded to a team other than Miami, there's a chance he might want to stay there long-term.

The 2010 maximum-contract caliber free agents (Wade, LeBron James, Bosh, Amare Stoudemire) can make about $30 million more in their next contract by re-signing with their teams. So Bosh could ask for a sign-and-trade next summer. For now, it's hard to envision Toronto accepting a Heat offer that does not include Beasley, though there are packages involving Udonis Haslem that would fit salary-cap rules.

• A friend of Wade's said he indicated privately that he wants to stay with Miami long-term. But is Wade impatient for the team to be built into a championship contender, even though it might not happen until 2010?

''I'm a Heat player under contract,'' Wade said this offseason, adding there's no choice ''but to be patient. I know everyone wants to fast-track this team, and that's what makes me excited about the future. We're taking the right steps.'' Wade has said he will not sign with New York because of the weather. Source: The Miami Herald