An interesting development occurred late in the Heat's 100-92 exhibition loss to the Magic Saturday in Jacksonville that might be worth keeping tabs on.
With the teams locked in a tight fourth quarter battle - with starters from both teams still on the court (and with Miami largely still in search of a cohesive unit), the Heat's highest-paid player was deep on the bench. Shawn Marion - he of the $17.8 million expiring contract - was not on the court with Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley and Udonis Haslem.
The Heat had opted to stay with its super-small unit, with Marcus Banks, Mario Chalmers, Wade, 
Beasley and Haslem on the court to finish out the key stretches of the fourth quarter.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra suggested after the game that there was nothing more to read into Marion being on the bench than simply a coach's decision to go with - and stick with - the unit that had made a nice run at the Magic late in the game.
"I was thinking about it," Spoelstra said. "I was really waiting for an opportunity to get him back in there. But I just went with the guys - kept them in since they were turning the tide a little bit."
But you have to wonder which way the tide is heading with Marion and the Heat. It was just a few days ago when Marion talked about how he's put the business of his contract dispute with the Heat behind him and is focused on playing with a Heat team he insists he likes.
He also talked at length about how excited he was about handling the tough task of being the only player on the team who has been asked to know - and play extended minutes at - both small forward and power forward. Marion didn't seem upset about how things played out late in Saturday's game and is taking a wait-and-see approach - just like every other teammate of note - with how the juggling act plays out in Spoelstra's search for a rotation.
Marion has been steady this preseason, but he has not yet stood out by any means. Clearly he's the most expensive employee on the roster. Clearly he's one of the five best players on the team. But with Beasley's emergence and Haslem's return to health, it's also clear Marion might not have a clear role.
Even at 6-7, Marion is clearly more comfortable in the Heat's offense when he's able to play power forward. In Miami's system, the four spot primarily sets screens as the pick-and-pop option. Shots generally come within Marion's range, and if not, he's able to get to the basket. Marion is clearly one of those rare players who are much better and more effective when you don't run plays for him and he's allowed to roam, get tip-ins, catch lobs for dunks and squeeze through cracks in the defense.
But when he's at the three, which is where he's been starting for Miami since Haslem returned from a foot injury, Marion is essentially out on an island. He's on the opposite wing or corner from where the action takes place with Wade. He's left essentially as a spot-up shooter in the deep corner - some 20 feet from the basket - which isn't his strength at all.
During his time in Phoenix, there seemed to be little difference between the forward spots in that run-and-gun offense. You simply fill a wing and finish with authority at the rim when Steve Nash finds you.
In Miami, it's different. Much different. And the Matrix seems to be caught in the middle. On top of that, he's playing with a torn ligament on the pinkie finger of his shooting hand.
Still, this new up-tempo offense the Heat has been advertising should be tailor-made for Marion's open-court game. Only that offense has yet to kick into gear because of turnovers, chemistry issues and growing pains. Plus, you can't get out on the break if you don't rebound - which has been a problem area for the Heat amid injuries and ineffective play at center.
At some point, in order for the Matrix to matter, those kinks have to be worked out. And maybe Spoelstra just wanted to try something different on Saturday. That's fine. This team is still tinkering.
But Marion must find his way in the offense - and the Heat must find ways to meet him halfway. Otherwise, 'Trix will be the highest-paid fourth option on an NBA roster this side of the Knicks.
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