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Hooray! NBA is back!

Players and owners agreed to a tentative deal to end the lockout early Saturday morning.

Want instant drama? The Heat will begin the season on Christmas Day against the Mavericks in Dallas. That means the Mavericks will receive their championship rings and raise the championship banner in front of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh moments before the season starts.

If players and owners ratify the deal (a formality, it seems), free agency and training camp will begin on Dec. 9. The Heat has work to do. Point guard Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent and the Heat must weigh the option of using the new CBA's amnesty clause to cut a player (possibly Mike Miller) in order to reduce payroll against a new, beefed up luxury tax.

The Heat must also sign draft pick Norris Cole and go searching for a point guard or center with its mid-level exception.

-joe

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