Putting Disaster to Bed

The Heat officially put its "godforsaken season" to bed Thursday, with president and coach Pat Riley holding exit interviews with the team's remaining veterans. Then, some of the veterans held their end-of-season interviews with the media.

There were quite a few highlights ...

Dwyane Wade, who had been silent on the subject until Thursday, took the high road when asked about his obligation to take more of a leadership role in the absence of center Shaquille O'Neal. Wade playfully required a reporter to specifically mention O'Neal by name when he asked about a certain big fella.

"I need you to say what you mean," Wade said. "Alonzo's still here. Say what you mean."

"If y'all can't say it, I can't answer it. So your question was, 'Without Shaq here ... "

"When Big Fella was here, it was more both of our team. He was the first one and I was the second one. Now, Big Fella has moved to another place and it puts me in the position to be the first. It's something I've been molded to do. It's not a responsibility I would have wanted to have early in my career, and I was glad I had him to shield me."

It's obvious Wade still has affection for O'Neal, and that their relationship didn't end on as bad of terms as some might have believed. It's also just as obvious that by talking about his appreciation for what Shaq meant to him, Wade had enough class to take the sort of high road O'Neal apparently couldn't locate if he had the help of a GPS tracking device on his way out of town.

Wade also cleared up a couple of matters with his schedule.

-He plans to start rehabbing his bothersome left knee on May 5 in Chicago and work out with noted trainer Tim Grover, who worked with Michael Jordan during his prime years with the Bulls.

-Wade said he will speak with - and soon meet with - Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and director Jerry Colangelo about their concerns regarding the health of Wade's knee. But Wade insists he'll be ready for June 28 mini-camp in Las Vegas and the July 20 training camp in advance of the Beijing Olympics. He's determined to play.

“I understand their concerns, but they can come watch me work out,” Wade said. “I really want to stress that I want to be a part of this team. I’ve been waiting four years. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I’m healthy enough to play.”

Heat forward Udonis Haslem was also as frank and entertaining as I've ever seen him in a media setting. He jokingly (I think) talked about how he took Riley's complaints about the attitudes in the locker room as something of a directive to: "Put Shaq in a chokehold," said Haslem, who is recovering from ankle surgery. "Then, it would have been more than a broke ankle."

Haslem, who has started at power forward the past four seasons, also said he wouldn't be threatened if the Heat drafted Kansas State stud Michael Beasley instead of Memphis guard Derrick Rose.

"I don’t really worry about that. Same situation when (Antoine Walker) came in. We worked that out. We’ll work it out, whatever the case may be."

A few moments later, a bit of reality set in when Haslem was asked what he would advise Pat Riley to do with the Heat's draft pick.

"I wouldn't draft a power forward until ... when does my contract run out?"

You'd be hard-pressed to find a team more thrilled to put this season to bed than the Heat. And after all that's gone on since that 0-7 start to the preseason, who could blame them?

-Michael Wallace

Comments

[Ronnie]

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE PAT RILEY DO YOURSELF A FAVOR DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE BEASLEY HYPE. I KNOW HOW YOU LOVE BIG MEN WHO CAN SCORE. DON'T GET ME WRONG BEASLEY IS GOING TO BE GOOD BUT DERRICK ROSE WILL BE GREAT!!DO THE MATH YOURSELF...CHRIS PAUL, DERON WILLIAMS ALL CHANGE THE CULTURAL OF THEIR TEAMS. A TRUE POINT GUARD IS THE WAY....

[iz fan]

you looked like you got your eye brows waxed for your espn appearence today...

sexy

[Sean O]

I agree with taking DERRICK ROSE with the first pick. There is no fat bastard to slow the team down. If the Heat long term with Marion they will need a more up tempo style of play. Grooming a point guard is better for the long hall than shaping up a young big guy. Also, use the veteran exemption to bring back Michael Doliec. He can run and is a great back-up until Miami signs a big guy in 09'Keep Banks and Quinn but part ways J-Will (aka lay-up king: he misses more lay-ups then junior varsity kids). Also, Ricky doesn't fit. He is the Twan the Heat just got rid of. That will save 14 mill to spend on anything else.