Next question for Heat: Who starts at small forward?

MIAMI — Heat president Pat Riley could have waited until Thursday - the trade deadline - to acquire center Jermaine O'Neal and forward Jamario Moon from Toronto. But doing so during the All-Star break gave the Heat a better chance to prepare for the final 30 games of the season.

The newcomers will get a full practice Tuesday before Wednesday's game against Minnesota and two practices before Saturday's game against Philadelphia.

"It did play a factor," Riley said of the schedule. "We wanted to consummate the deal."

The task of blending O'Neal and Moon into the system will be more challenging because of the difficult remaining schedule: 18 of Miami's final 30 games are against teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today.

The Heat (28-24), which holds the fifth seed in the East, has three games remaining against No. 1 seed Boston and three games left against Detroit. Miami also has two each against Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

Fans can expect O'Neal to start Wednesday against the Timberwolves. Over his last six games he is averaging 16.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and an amazing 3.3 blocks.

More of a question is who will start for the Heat at small forward, the position vacated by Shawn Marion, who was packaged with guard Marcus Banks and shipped to Toronto. The Heat could insert Moon immediately.

"I think he has a game that with the right pieces is very effective," Riley said.

Miami also could start Yakhouba Diawara, who has started 11 games, or it could go to James Jones, who is still on the comeback from off-season wrist surgery. Guard Daequan Cook is a less likely candidate to start at small forward.

Rookie Michael Beasley, who comes off the bench at power forward, isn't in the running to start at small forward, although coach Erik Spoelstra might give him spot duty there.

"I think this season is really about getting his feet wet at his natural position," Riley said of Beasley at power forward. "I'm not saying there won't be times where Erik might experiment with him at (small forward). He does have the ability and skills. But it would be a very difficult transition for him right now."

Riley said he feels he has upgraded his team with a starting frontcourt of O'Neal at center, Udonis Haslem at power forward and either Moon, Diawara, Jones or Cook.

"Somewhere you've got to get honest with yourself and say if you're going to compete with the big boys, you need someone in the middle," Riley said. "And I feel we have a very good front line now." Source: The Palm Beach Post