Pat Will Stay Past 2010?

Heat president Pat Riley said he plans on staying with the team past 2010, when his contract expires.

“Absolutely,” Riley said during Friday’s conference call.

That’s important because I’ve always thought the key to keeping Dwyane Wade in a Heat uniform past 2010, when he can opt out of his contract, is keeping Riley in the front office past 2010. The way I see it, Wade knows the Heat will never be mediocre for long with Riley guiding the ship. He won’t stand for it. And Wade is almost a junior executive with the Heat considering he has Riley’s ear. Wade might not have it so good with another president.

As always, you have to put in a disclaimer that says Riley reserves the right to change his mind. But he said he plans on staying. Source: The Palm Beach Post