D. Wade/Riles: 2010 and Beyond

LONDON - With London's 02 Arena set to serve as the main basketball venue for the 2012 Olympics, it only seemed natural that Miami Heat guard - and two-time Olympic medalist Dwyane Wade - was peppered with questions regarding his interest in returning for one more run at gold.

Naturally, Wade deflected questions about his interest in playing in the 2012 Games. Looking into the future, whether it be 2010 when he becomes a free agent or beyond, has become an increasingly uncomfortable role. Wade will be 30 in 2012.

"I haven't had a chance to look to twenty-twelve because I keep getting asked about twenty-ten," Wade said of his looming decision of whether to resign with the Heat or head elsewhere. "Right now, my whole focus is on 2008. There's so much that can happen in two-to-four years. You have to live in the present, live in the moment. Whether I play or not, I'm sure we'll be well represented."

Although it clearly isn't an either-or situation, the guess here is that there's a much greater chance Wade will return to the Heat than he is to play in the next Olympics. He's already led both Miami and team USA to the ultimate honors of an NBA title and a gold medal, respectively.

Just where should Wade's loyalties lie in 2010 or 2012? Wherever he wants them to. He's earned the right to be selective. He owes - once his Heat contract expires - no one anything. But Heat president Pat Riley believes Wade when Wade says he plans - or at least anticipates - retiring with the Heat.

But Riley is smart enough to know that the potential lure of Wade's hometown Chicago Bulls or the chance to share the Kingdom of New York with buddy LeBron James (one as a Knick, the other as a Net) after two more seasons is too strong to take lightly.

"We have great faith in Dwyane," Riley said courtside Saturday at the Heat's practice and moments before Nets' part owner Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z) walked by and dapped up D. Wade. "He's our franchise guy. He's our No. 1 guy. We're trying to build this team around him and Shawn (Marion) and Udonis (Haslem) and guys that are good fits. This (season) is our first step, and (Wade) knows that. He also knows that I'm not afraid to make a deal. He knows we'll be very proactive to make this team better. But you can't do it in a month."

Riley also addressed his own future beyond 2010, when his contract with the Heat presumably expires. He stopped short of saying he would pursue an extension from owner Micky Arison, but also didn't sound as if he's winding down anytime soon now that he's solely running the team and no longer coaching. Riley added a couple of more tasks to his duties when Randy Pfund stepped down as GM last week.

"That's two years from now - I hope I'm still involved in basketball," Riley said. "I'm sort of liking this now more than I ever have. I'm not feeling the stress and the pressure I know Erik (Spoelstra) is sort of feeling every day. I actually woke up today, walked to Starbucks to have a coffee and walked around the mall here without thinking about Xs and Os. It's a lot of fun right now to rebuild it and I'm not even thinking about anything else."

(Blog photos courtesy of Omar Vega, Miami Heat/NBA)