ORLANDO - No need to beat around the bush here. The Heat just simply didn't measure up in Wednesday's 90-86 loss to the Magic at Amway Arena.

That much was obvious from the end of the national anthem. That notion really sank in minutes into the game, when Dwight Howard not only slammed home a thunderous dunk in the first quarter, but almost stuffed Udonis Haslem's torso through the rim right along with it.

It's only the second preseason game. Still, you could easily see Wednesday that one team in the state of Florida is locked and loaded for a shot at a repeat run to the NBA Finals this year. Meanwhile, the other hopes to do a bit better than tread water until it can make some major moves next year.

Orlando was without Rashard Lewis, who sat out as coach Stan Van Gundy looked to work in other perimeter players in preparation for Lewis' 10-game regular season suspension for a drug violation. The Heat was without Jermaine O'Neal (ankle) and Daequan Cook (thumb).

The Heat now carries an 0-2 preseason record into Sunday's home game against San Antonio - yet another championship contender using these exhibitions to fine-tune while Miami works out frustrating kinks.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: For the second time in two preseason games, Dwyane Wade flexed his season-ready muscles in limited doses. His shot was off, but he attacked the rim and made several aggressive plays around the basket. One move in particular - a crossover dribble and pull-up jumper - left J.J. Redick reevaluating his purpose in life. Wade finished with 17 points, two rebounds and two assists in 27 minutes. He was 6 of 18 from the field.

TURNING POINT: The Magic never seemed threatened. But it broke the game open midway through the third quarter with a 14-2 run fueled by Orlando's offseason additions. The run opened with a pair of Vince Carter free-throws and included a Brandon Bass dunk and a pair of 3-pointers from Ryan Anderson and Matt Barnes. As Wade said after the game, this team is loaded enough for another run at the Finals.

LOSING EDGE: When Joel Anthony is shooting a far better percentage from the field than Michael Beasley, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers, you can expect a rough night offensively. And that's what was delivered as the Heat shot 33.8 percent from the field. That's after the team was 36.6 percent in Monday's 87-83 loss at Detroit. Spoelstra and Wade both said afterward that they were confident the offense would come around. The majority of camp was spent on the defense.

HEAD-SCRATCHER: The fouls piled up in a hurry for the Heat. Quentin Richardson was 3 of 3 from three-point range, but he was hardly around to sustain that hot-shooting streak. He picked up three fouls in four minutes. Haslem, who has been in foul trouble all preseason so far, had his fourth foul by the 9:15 mark of the second quarter. Both Haslem and Anthony would foul out. A total of 45 fouls were called, with players and coaches from both sides barking frequently at the replacement officials. "You're messing up a good game," Carter yelled at one ref after he was called for a foul. "Pay attention," Spoelstra shouted moments later after the officials got another call mixed up. "Just pay attention. Is that too hard?"

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Joel Anthony, who started at center in the absence of O'Neal, was far more active in the game than his numbers indicated. Anthony was essentially all the Heat had for interior defense. He finished with five points, five rebounds and two blocks before fouling out with two minutes left in the third quarter. He disrupted about a dozen shots at the rim. His offense and touch with the basketball is slowing coming around. Is he a savior at center? Hardly. But he does give the Heat energy and a legitimate shot-blocking threat.

DAMAGE DONE: Dwight Howard had 11 points and nine rebounds. His five blocks, however, did the most damage to the Heat. In all, the Magic had 16 blocks in the game compared to two for the Heat, both by Anthony (pictured left).

NEXT UP: San Antonio Spurs at Heat, 6 p.m. Sunday - AmericanAirlines Arena.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

ORLANDO - For the most part, the Miami Heat is a team of great talkers. So it came as little surprise that everyone said all the right things in an attempt Tuesday to put behind Monday's disappointing 87-83 loss to the Pistons in the preseason debut.

Mario Chalmers, the undisputed and, for now, unchallenged, starting point guard, took his share of the blame for a lackluster showing by the starting unit.

"It was a test that showed us what we really need to work on," Chalmers said after Tuesday's practice at Amway Arena, where the Heat plays Orlando on Wednesday. "It all starts with me. It's not too much pressure at all on me. I wanted this position, so I've got to prove that I can handle it."

But this is not all about Mario. In some ways, Pat Riley has put the kid in an unfair situation. He's given Mario a starting job he really hasn't had to work too hard to earn - or keep. And Riles hasn't brought in a veteran who can ease some of the mental and physical burden on Wade of having to do everything in the backcourt on nights when Chalmers struggles. Rio is a keeper. But he needs a veteran helper at the point. It's that simple.

Riley was at Amway Arena on Tuesday, presumably keeping a close watch on the development/performance of this team he chose to leave mostly intact after last season. And that's despite last season's limitations that were exposed in the playoffs.

If the point guard play remains inconsistent this preseason, Riley will almost certainly have to make some sort of move. There's too much veteran help available. Brevin Knight. Jamaal Tinsley. Ty Lue. Bobby Jackson. There are trades to consider. The return of Rafer (Alston) for that $4.2 million trade exception the Heat still holds. Rafer for Quentin Richardson. At some point, something's gotta give. Doesn't it?

Then there's Jermaine O'Neal. He took responsibility for that one rebound he finished with Monday. He grabbed that board in the first 30 seconds of the game. And then played the final 21 minutes without snagging a single rebound.

"Anytime you don't play to the level you're capable of, you're going to be disappointed," O'Neal said. "Obviously, you don't want to panic and jump ship after one preseason game. But you do take it personal. One rebound in 22 minutes is something we've talked about and I've thought about."

Then there's Michael Beasley, who owned up to the preseason stage fright. He was lost on defensive assignments on Monday, but spent Tuesday chasing everyone everywhere they went during the team's practice-ending scrimmage session.

Beasley, who had 9 points and 4 rebounds but little impact on Monday's outcome, said Tuesday's film session wasn't too scary. But it was eye-opening.

"All through the week, we worked on all of this stuff," Beasley said. "And then when the lights turned on (against Detroit), I think we sort of forgot about it. First-game jitters came on, and that was the game. But you do a little of both. You learn from your mistakes. And you have to put that one behind you."

And then there's Jamaal Magloire, who had yet to hear from the league regarding potential disciplinary action for his tussle under the basket with Pistons rookie Jonas Jerebko. Magloire was accused of punching Jerebko in the nose as the two fell to the ground to battle for a loose rebound.

Magloire, never one to back down, said he has to maintain his tough approach. But he also said he has to better harness his emotions and elbows and fists and feet when in a pile.

"Anything I did was unintentional," the Big Cat said Tuesday. "It happened so fast. I didn't think anybody hit anybody. I've been playing now in the NBA for 10 years. I've never been accused of throwing a punch. I find other ways to get my point across."

Of course, Dwyane Wade had his say. He's trying to find a balance between practicing patience with a roster that has obvious limitations while also preaching urgency.

"I know it's not going to be miraculous overnight," Wade said. "I think the main thing is I want to see it get better every day. You want to see effort. The offense and defense is going to come. But we can't really afford for too many people to struggle."

After a preseason debut that left Miami with plenty of explaining to do, the Heat offered all the right things from the preseason hot seat. They talked the talk Tuesday. On Wednesday, they get another chance to walk the walk.

INJURY UPDATE: Dorell Wright was held out of practice as part of a routine maintenance schedule the training staff has in place to be proactive with his surgically repaired left knee. Wright played 20 minutes on Monday and did not report any swelling on Tuesday ... Unfortunately for the Heat, Wright was joined on the sidelines Tuesday by Daequan Cook, who bruised his right thumb during a practice collision. He will be reevaluated before Wednesday's game. With Wright and Cook questionable, expect James Jones and Quentin Richardson to get extended playing time at small forward as part of Spoelstra's plan to rotate the rotation candidates in game-to-game shifts during the preseason. 

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

AUBURN HILLS - As preseason openers go, the Heat couldn't have looked worse at times. It was almost as if this team made little progress from the Game 7 loss against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last season.

After the playoff ouster, Heat president Pat Riley questioned how much firepower the Heat had aside from star guard Dwyane Wade. You could ask that same question after Monday's 87-83 loss to the Pistons in the preseason opener for both teams.

Wade was in midseason form. But he seemingly stood alone on both ends, outside of the 10 points and six rebounds Udonis Haslem added despite early foul trouble. Missing in addition to support for Wade was any form of consistent defensive effort. Point guard will be an issue for this team. On both ends. So will rebounding and protecting the rim. The Heat did neither well against the Pistons, who dominated the glass and made frequent trips to the free-throw line in the key stages of the game.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade finished with 18 points, five assists, two steals and one block in 26 minutes. He was 6 of 13 from the field and 6 of 8 from the foul line.

TURNING POINT: The Pistons used a 21-10 spurt to open the second half and pull comfortably ahead. The run was capped by a Ben Gordon 3-pointer from the corner. You know it's a bad night defensively when you struggle to keep up with Will Bynum and Kwame Brown, who fueled the run with aggressive plays off the dribble and in the lane, respectively. Yes, Kwame Brown.

LOSING EDGE: The Pistons dominated the paint early, scoring 24 of their first 47 points in the paint. They added another 14 points from the free-throw line. "We were sloppy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "Keeping them off the free-throw line, and don't forget about rebounding. We didn't do any of those well."

HEAD-SCRATCHER: Yes, this was very much a game officiated by replacement refs. With a little more than a minute left, the referees stood by and watched the wrong Piston shoot free throws. Will Bynum stepped to the line and made two free throws. The only issue was that it was supposed to be Maceo Baston. After complaints from the Heat's bench, the play was reviewed and Baston went to the line. He missed both attempts. "Everybody is learning," Wade said. "Our team is learning. The refs are learning. Hopefully, it'll get better as the season comes for everybody."

KEY CONTRIBUTION: It came late. But it was one of the few encouraging stretches for the Heat. Third-string point guard John Lucas III sparked the end-of-the-bench unit in the fourth quarter. That five, which consisted of Lucas, Anthony Tolliver, Dorell Wright, Yakhouba Diawara and Joel Anthony, rallied from a double-digit deficit and closed to within 85-83 with 12 seconds left. Lucas finished with 7 points, 2 assists and 2 rebounds in 16 minutes.

DAMAGE DONE: Will Bynum was unstoppable. And he's the Pistons backup point guard. Bynum got around Mario Chalmers, sped past Chris Quinn and had his way anytime he got into the lane. He finished with 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting from the field. On nights when Chalmers struggles, there just isn't another solid answer for the Heat at point guard. It's a need that must be addressed.

NEXT UP: Heat at Magic, Wednesday.

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SUNDAY, OCT. 4 - The Heat closed out its final official training camp practice Sunday by making it pretty obvious that the team has settled on a starter at small forward.

Michael Beasley, by all indications, is The Man. Surprising? No. But was this a sure bet? Hardly. Not considering everything Beasley had to go through during an offseason that included a month-long stay at a Houston-area rehab facility as part of the league's substance-abuse program.

There were no sure bets with Beasley when camp opened a week ago. There was hope. There was a certain level of expectation. There also were no guarantees. Over the course of a week of camp practices, Beasley showed that he put in the work this summer to expand his game.

You knew the talent was there. Were the work ethic, focus, professionalism and attitude? While there's still work to be done with Beasley in a lot of areas, there's no denying that he's made tremendous progress - at least on the court - when it comes to his impact with the Heat.

Sunday's scrimmage saw Beasley open alongside Mario Chalmers, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem and Jermaine O'Neal in a 12-minute game against a second-team unit of Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook, James Jones, Anthony Tolliver and Joel Anthony.

What we saw was Beasley battle his way to rebounds. What we saw was Beasley take the ball off the glass and initiate the fastbreak. What we saw was Beasley confidently step into a spot-up jumper or two from the wing. What we saw was Beasley get back to his power roots and drive the ball strong to the basket. But mostly, what we saw was a work in progress.

Despite the signs of a much-improved skill set in an already talented player, Beasley still has plenty of work to do to make this small forward ordeal work. James Jones, Beasley's stiffest competition for the starting job, made a few crafty plays that left Beasley lost out there.

Jones beat Beasley on a pump-fake to draw a foul. He also beat Beasley on the baseline to get to an offensive rebound. And Jones also delivered the final dagger of the scrimmage, dropping a 3-pointer over a late-arriving Beasley to lead the "white" team of backups to a 17-16 win over the "black" team of starters.

If Jones gave Beasley those kind of problems Sunday, what might be in store for him Monday when he faces Tayshaun Prince in the preseason opener at Detroit? After that, Rashard Lewis awaits in Orlando on Wednesday. All told, Beasley will also have to face Rudy Gay, James Posey and David West, Jeff Green and Kevin Durant, and Marvin Williams over the course of the preseason.

That's a pretty good test run at the position defensively to get prepared for the season.

"Part of the process is learning situations," Spoelstra said of Beasley's transition between small and power forward. "The reps this summer helps. He felt comfortable. He's still learning and he'll tell you that."

For Beasley's part, he's smart enough to know that he doesn't have it all figured out just yet. But he appears to be well on his way. He can create  a mismatch just as often as he might be a victim of one during this on-the-spot learning process.

"I'm just playing my position and making sure I'm rotating right and being in the place I'm supposed to be," Beasley said. "When you try (too hard) to make it happen, it's going to be a disaster. You let it come to you."

INJURY UPDATE: Forward Dorell Wright was the only player on the 18-man camp roster who did not participate in the 12-minute scrimmage at the end of practice. Spoelstra said the team continues to monitor swelling in Wright's left knee that required two surgeries in the past 18 months. The team typically measures the amount of swelling in Wright's knee to help determine how hard he should be pushed in practices. Swingman Quentin Richardson practiced Sunday after injuring his ankle Saturday.

SCRIMMAGE SPOTLIGHT: Jermaine O'Neal had two impression moves in the scrimmage. He made a jumper from the elbow and also made a nice power move in the lane to spin away off a post-up for a turnaround jumper in the lane ... Dwyane Wade was his typical explosive self. He raced in for a two-hand dunk set up off a steal from Mario Chalmers. Unfortunately, Chalmers got called out by the coaches for gambling and getting out of position before he made the steal. Evidently, he went about doing the right thing the wrong way ... Jamaal Magloire is still a beast at the basket. Wherever he goes, pain is certain to follow. There is no simple way to box out the Big Cat ... Daequan Cook, who appears to be ahead of Richardson as Wade's backup at shooting guard, struggled with his jumper. I remember him taking at least four or five, but can't recall one going down ... Shavlik Randolph will be difficult to cut if he defends the way he did Sunday. The former Duke big man drew two charges in five minutes ... Sunday's scary moment came when Wade drove along the wing and was inadvertently pummeled by Tolliver. Wade hit the deck and would get up slowly. But he would continue.

NEXT UP: Heat at Pistons, Monday. Preseason opener. 

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

THURSDAY, OCT. 1 - Dwyane Wade set the record straight. He won't be leaving basketball anytime soon for a career in movies or music. Especially music.

By now, you've probably seen the YouTube clip of Wade murdering the Boyz II Men hit, End of the Road, during his Wade's World Foundation celebrity weekend bowling event last month in Chicago. Even worse, you may have actually turned up the volume and heard his karaoke version of the song.

In short, Wade probably owes Boyz II Men an apology. Wade improved his defense to an All-World level last season. But he may have been at his defensive best after Thursday's practice, when he tried to explain his performance on the mic.

His publicist and friend, Lisa Joseph, re-posted the less-than-grammy-worthy performance on the Internet earlier this week to give Wade's friends another round of laughs after the initial wave wore off. Wade took it all in stride and said the video probably got 20,000 more hits in one night.

"Everybody was scared to get up there, and I decided to get up there and be a leader," Wade said of his decision to take the stage and flex his vocals. "Unfortunately, it was a camera around. It (sounded) a lot different in my head. When they put the music on and the words, it turned out a little differently."

It wasn't Wade's first venture into the entertainment industry. He has a cameo role in a soon-to-be-released movie starring rapper Common and Queen Latifah. Wade said during the Heat's media day earlier this week that he didn't have the patience to be in the movie business. He's cool with commercials.

But ...

"I'm glad I make my money over here (in the NBA)," said Wade, who recently joined Nike's Jordan Brand team. "I'd love to do Space Jam II, but I just couldn't do it."

THURSDAY'S NEWS: The league office is prohibiting coaches from commenting on the issue of using replacement referees in games. The league and veteran officials continue to be far apart in negotiations on a new deal that would end the lockout. Preseason games start this weekend, with the Heat set to open its seven-game exhibition slate on Monday at Detroit.

"Not even going to go there," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Thursday's practice.

In other camp-related developments Thursday, Spoelstra said a team of "young" players beat the "veterans" in the final scrimmage of the day's workout session. That young team consisted of Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook, Dorell Wright, Michael Beasley and Joel Anthony.

"They actually won the last game and they did it quietly, which is what I like," Spoelstra said of the yong group winning without much taunting or celebrating. "It wasn't a lot of talk. There was a better focus today."

INJURY UPDATE: Jermaine O'Neal became the first injury casualty of camp, missing Thursday's workout with a sprained left ankle he sustained late in Wednesday's practice. O'Neal said he expects to return to practice on Friday and will play in Monday's preseason opener at Detroit.

THURSDAY'S SPOTLIGHT: James Jones, 6-8, 220. 7th season. Jones has a lot to juggle in training camp. Not only is the Broward County resident dealing with the rigors of twice-daily practices this week, he's doing so while also balancing enough time in his day - and night - to spend with his newborn baby girl.

Jones and his wife welcomed their third child on Aug. 11, a bouncing baby girl named Jodie Marissa Jones. Just before camp started, Jones said the baby was on a sleeping pattern that had her waking up at midnight, 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. With two other kids ages 4 and 2, there's no doubt that Jones' most valuable teammate is his wife Destiny.

"For me, it's easy, because I know I put a lot of time in with my family," Jones said. "I spend as much time as I can with my kids before I come to work in the morning and before they go to bed at night. That's one of the joys about playing in your hometown. Right now, I look at it as sort of being on a West Coast road trip, where I've got to devote a lot of time to work right now. But my family is always with me."

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 - Regardless of how much faith the Miami Heat has in Mario Chalmers, the void at the point guard position is

going to be obvious this season.

And that's no knock against Chalmers, who became the first rookie in franchise history to start every regular season and playoff game last season. While there should be little doubt this season that Chalmers should hold his own - even with modest improvement - there's just not enough reliable depth at the position.

At some point, Chalmers is going to need a break. Or, he might break down. The obvious answer in those instances would be to move Wade over from shooting guard to the point. But even Wade has concerns about overextending himself in those times when he's needed to run the point before crunch time in the fourth quarter.

While point guard won't be much of a concern on the offensive end of the court, it will be a huge issue defensively. Quick, name one player on the Heat's roster you feel comfortable with when it comes to defending an opposing team's Randy Foye or Rafer Alston or D.J. Augustin? And these are backups we're talking about. This is what made even a Luther Head a decent value for the Heat for the 10 games he was here a year ago.

If the Heat does not make a move to bolster its point guard depth before the season, it will be critical for the likes of Daequan Cook or Chris Quinn to step up defensively. That's why both sessions of the Heat's first two days of practice have been focused squarely on defense. Man-to-man, hard-nosed defense.

Or, as coach Erik Spoelstra put it Wednesday ...

"Grind-it-out, kick ass, defensive stuff," said Spoelstra, who has yet to crack open the playbook. "But we'll move to more five-on-five stuff as the week goes." He also said Quentin Richardson drew three charge calls during drill work.

WEDNESDAY'S NEWS: After saying he wouldn't need to hire an agent until he needed to negotiate an

extension to his rookie contract, Heat forward Michael Beasley confirmed Wednesday that he's shifted gears in his thinking and has retained the services of agent Jeff Schwartz. Beasley fired his first agent, Joel Bell, weeks after he was taken with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft.

Beasley hinted at the decision during Monday's media day when he said he has taken a "more professional" approach to his career on and off the court after his month-long stay at a Houston rehab facility as part of the league's substance-abuse program. The on-court part of Beasley's decision to improve his professionalism was evident Wednesday morning, when he stayed after the session to work on his own with the coaching staff on dribble-drive moves.

"I've got to think about every decision I make in my life from now on," said Beasley, who added yet another tattoo recently, an image on his left arm of his infant daughter beside the script of a letter he wrote to her, titled 'I Promise.' "I have to act like a professional, on and off the court. When I step between the lines, it's about business. This (ordeal) gave me a chance to see all around me."

WEDNESDAY'S SPOTLIGHT: Dwyane Wade, 6-4, 228: 7th Season.

The Heat may go only as far as the point guard position takes them. And that's a spot Wade only hopes to play in limited doses. He's up for handling the ball and distributing to

teammates. But when it comes to guarding opposing point guards, Wade is not exactly up for that chase over 94 feet or being hounded defensively by smaller, quicker point guards the distance of the floor. 

"I feel comfortable with it," Wade said. "It's something I've done since I came into the league. It's something, hopefully, we don't have to do for a whole game. You don't want to deal with it 94 feet."

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

We know he's confident. Mario Chalmers entered the league a year ago with a chip on his shoulder after slipping to the second round of the draft, and refused to take a back seat to any guard picked ahead of him.

We know he's durable. Although he only had to beat out a barely-wanted Marcus Banks, a still-rehabbing Shaun Livingston and a seldom-used Chris Quinn, Chalmers (pictured right) grabbed the starting job last season and became the only rookie in Heat history to start every regular season and playoff game.

We know he's valued. Why else would Heat president Pat Riley go as far as to proclaim that he wouldn't bring in anyone to start ahead of Chalmers, despite the team's significant void of point guard depth? That means - barring a last-minute change of plans - bypassing a group of proven veterans that consists of Ty Lue, Brevin Knight, Flip Murray, Jamaal Tinsley and just-off-the-market Allen Iverson.

Yes, we know plenty about Chalmers. But there's at least one thing we don't. And that is whether or not he's clearly - beyond a reasonable doubt - the solid, steady, clutch point guard this franchise will place in the backcourt alongside Dwyane Wade for the foreseeable future?

This season will go a long way in determining that answer. I still find it a bit strange that Chalmers went from having to be taught the point guard position at this level a year ago to becoming practically untouchable and essentially irreplaceable in just the span of 12 months.

And that leaves the Heat in a curious situation entering camp just two weeks from now. Chalmers and Quinn are the only two point guards under contract. Riley said last week that Wade will again handle significant time at the position late in games and in crisis situations.

That sets up a huge gamble for the Heat. An injury to Chalmers means far more minutes for Wade. An injury to Wade means the season is done, during a contract year for your franchise player to boot. Riley is a risk taker. But he ain't crazy, which is why I think he will address needs at the position via a trade or free agent signing at some point before the start of the season.

If Chalmers (pictured left, driving against Jameer Nelson) continues to develop, there's no question he could be a solid starter in this league for a long time alongside Wade, assuming Wade re-ups as expected next summer in free agency. Remember, greatness doesn't need spectacular as a sidekick to win. Simply solid would do.

That's why Jordan worked so well with Paxson and Armstrong. It's why Kobe gets it done with Fisher. Between now and the Sept. 28 start of training camp, we will rank how the Heat stacks up in the East at all five starting positions, the bench and coaching. Let's start at point guard, where I've got Chalmers ranked 10th in the East entering the season, based on production, potential, expected progress, overall impact and durability among other factors. Here's where the Heat stacks up at the position.

1. Devin Harris (pictured right), Nets. 2. Gilbert Arenas, Wizards. 3. Derrick Rose, Bulls. 4. Rajon Rondo, Celtics. 5. Jameer Nelson, Magic. 6. Mo Milliams, Cavs. 7. Jose Calderon, Raptors. 8. Mike Bibby, Hawks. 9. Rodney Stuckey, Pistons. 10. Mario Chalmers, Heat. 11. Raymond Felton, Bobcats. 12. T.J. Ford, Pacers. 13. Chris Duhon, Knicks. 14. Luke Ridnour, Bucks. 15 Lou Williams, Sixers.

If Chalmers makes the sort of second-year progress the Heat is expecting, Miami will be fine at the position. But if the team enters the season as is at the point, Mario will have minimal margin for error.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

If Allen Iverson is truly awaiting a counter offer from the Heat, The Answer should probably expect a four- word response from Miami president Pat Riley: Thanks. But no thanks.

League sources with knowledge of the Heat's thinking at this point suggested Friday that Riley has essentially abandoned any thought of addressing his lack of point guard depth through free agency.

With the Heat already about $3 million above the league's dollar-for-dollar luxury tax threshold of $69.9 million, any significant additions Miami might make to the roster would presumably come through a potential trades or sign-and-trade deals.

What that likely means is that Riley will pass on available playmakers such as Iverson, Jamaal Tinsley, Flip Murray or anyone who'd command more than the league-subsidized vet's minimum on a 1-year deal.

The Heat has expressed varying levels of interest in Iverson, Tinsley and Murray throughout the offseason. Riley even went as far as to inform Iverson's camp to hit up the Heat before the 10-time All-Star and former MVP decided to accept another offer.

A source close to Iverson confirmed that the Grizzlies have a standing offer, which reportedly is a one-year deal for the $3.5 million Memphis has left under the salary cap. Iverson's camp complied with Riley's request to get back to the Heat with Memphis' figures and is awaiting a response. Charlotte, reportedly, is also in the mix. But the math just doesn't make sense as far as Miami is concerned.

The $3.5 million Memphis has offered equates to just that: $3.5 million. That's how finances work for the very few teams out there that are below the $57.7 million salary cap. 

Should Charlotte decide to match Memphis' offer, the $3.5 million or more chunk it would eat out of the Bobcat's mid-level exception would equate to just that. That's how finances work for team's that operate above the salary cap but below the punitive luxury tax.

And then there's Miami, where $3.5 million for Iverson would equate to $7 million, where even $1.5 million for Murray means $3 million on the expense account. We all know Miami has a tropical climate. But when you're making it rain to the tune of $23 million for Jermaine O'Neal and almost $3 million for Dorell Wright this season - eating up nearly half the salary cap right there alone - spending flexibility gets drenched.

That means the $5.9 million ($12 mil in actual cost) mid-level exception and the $2 million ($4 million) veteran's exception available at Miami's disposal probably won't get touched. And maybe not even the two trade exceptions ($4.2 mil and $800K) that have been available.

Money matters meant having to make a sort of mind-boggling move this week. The Heat shipped $1.5 million and a second-round draft picks to the Lakers to acquire Pat Beverley on draft night. But Miami then saved $1 million this week by not signing Beverley and allowing him to instead sign with a Greek team for this season. 

Miami is no longer in the business of doing business straight up this summer. There can only be addition by subtraction. In theory, that brings Utah (Boozer), Portland (Blake, Bayless), the L.A. Clippers (Camby), New Jersey (Alston, Dooling) and a few other overstocked potential partners back into the mix.

Or maybe - just maybe - Miami goes into training camp Sept. 28 as is. Without The Answer or an obvious solution to its point guard depth issues.

Beasley update: Sources also confirmed Friday that forward Micheal Beasley moved from an out-patient to a more stringent in-patient program because of a violation of rules. Beasley remains in a Houston substance-abuse facility for treatment that was initially prompted by a violation during last summer's NBA rookie transition program. Beasley is still expected back for training camp, barring an additional setback. 

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

And then there was Chris Quinn.

For now, that's all the Miami Heat has at point guard behind returning starter Mario Chalmers. A team that long has needed another dose of depth at the position instead got a departure.

With Wednesday's confirmation that second-round draft pick Pat Beverley has signed to play next season for Greek power Olympiakos, the Heat now has as many point guards as the Miami Hurricanes have scholarship quarterbacks. There's Chalmers and Quinn (right).

On the surface, it appears Heat president Pat Riley has essentially blown that $1.5 million the team forked over to the Los Angeles Lakers on draft night to acquire Beverley. Yes, the Heat still maintains Beverley's rights, and the expectation is that he will be brought back a year from now when Quinn's contract expires.

Beverley wasn't going to be a sure-fire answer to get the Heat's backcourt rotation over the hump this season. That type of job should - and needs - to fall into the hands of a veteran, either through a late summer free agency pickup or trade prior to the Sept. 28 start of training camp.

By now, you're familiar with the names still out there.

Over here, there's proven and presumably pricier options such as Allen Iverson and Jamaal Tinsley. But neither, despite what they say, would come into the fold and simply bow down to the much younger and far less accomplished Chalmers. Over there, you've got the salvage-what's-left-of-their-careers crew consisting of well traveled Bobby Jackson, Brevin Knight, Ty Lue, Flip Murray, Jason Hart and so on. And beyond that, there are long-standing restricted free agents in the form of Nate Robinson and Ramon Sessions.

You're probably thinking what I'm thinking. That Riley has to make a move at this point. That he wouldn't have stamped Beverley's boarding pass to Europe without the intention of landing some veteran help.

That is unless there's an unexpected wild card in play, some form of relief already on the roster. The only other in-house option that comes to mind would be Daequan Cook (below left). But if you recall, the backup shooting guard was a disaster in that brief stint when he was pressed into point guard duty a while back. Maybe he's improved. Cook, last season's 3-PT Shootout Champion at All-Star Weekend, spent the bulk of this offseason running pick-and-roll sets and working on his ball-handling. And that might be his best path to steady playing time, considering the roster crowd at shooting guard and small forward.

But that can't be the plan, can it? Therein lies the story of this puzzling offseason for the Heat. As the start of training camp approaches a month from now, there continues to be a lot more questions than answers. You have to believe that Miami can only get to the point of this problem by eventually addressing the problem at the point.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)

One of the Miami Heat's biggest strengths last season was also its biggest weakness.

Fluidity. The playing rotation was never settled. Coach Erik Spoelstra intended to eventually establish a pecking order that would have established an eight-player group night in and night out. Eventually he gave up and went with an all-hands-on-deck approach.

In part, the problem was that some of the available hands were unable to stay healthy or productive enough to hold down a solid role. Another issue was that Spoelstra (right) struggled as a first-year coach to find his way through this rotation situation and never closed the door on any possibility - or player. Pat Riley's hand-picked successor couldn't have been more anti-Riley in this regard.

It was an approach that created the Michael Beasley debate and - ultimately - the Michael Beasley/Udonis Haslem dilemma. It cleared the way for the Yakhouba Diawara experiment, one that saw him go from the inactive list one week and into the starting lineup the next, and back into street clothes the following. It allowed for the Jamaal Magloire opportunity, one that saw the Big Cat embrace the role of resident banger/enforcer when given a shot to shake off the bench-induced rigor mortis.

You thought you were done in December with Chris Quinn. Instead, you met him again in March.

And it all essentially left nothing resolved. 

That's one reason the Heat will open training camp five weeks from now facing far more questions than answers regarding its roster and roles.

Is this team in "End Now" mode, with more than $40 million in expiring contracts coming off the books after this season? Or is it in "Win Now" mode, with Wade in the midst of his prime years heading into free agency uncertainty next summer? We certainly know - based on this offseason - that Miami isn't in "Spend Now" mode, despite its long-shot pursuit of Lamar Odom, because the plan has always been to wait, to cash in and splurge in the summer of 2010?

So where does that leave the Heat right now? With essentially 14 players in the mix, 13 under contract, a 12-man "active" roster that will almost certainly change frequently on game night and with about 11 players who are candidates to find themselves as key contributors one week and among the missing on the back of a carton of milk the next.

With a little more than a month to go before camp opens, we rank the Heat's roster - as it currently stands - based on a combination of value to the team, expectations, ability and priority in the pecking order entering the Sept. 28 start of training camp.

14. Chris Quinn - The team's handling of Quinn has been questionable. This summer has been no exception. He was given a $1.1 million option as part of last year's contract to return this season almost certainly as a third-string PG. It's a deal that ultimately might prevent the Heat from adding a much-needed, experienced veteran.

13. Dorell Wright - It's officially breakthrough or bust for Wright. There's no more middle ground for the 2004 first-round pick who will earn $2.7  million this season, which equates to a $5.4 million hit when factoring the luxury-tax penalty. And who said Miami didn't spend its mid-level exception this summer?

12. Pat Beverley - The Heat invested $1.5 million to acquire him in the second round of the June draft. For that alone, he's got to be in the plans - although he remains unsigned. The fact that Quinn and Beverley are this deep on the board shows you just how big of a void there is with the PG depth. 

11. Yakhouba Diawara- Also a member of "The Expirings," Diawara is essentially a roster mistress. Spoelstra couldn't get enough of the defensive-minded small forward one moment. The next, Khouba was shoved aside and found himself retrieving in-game stats for coaches during timeouts last season. 

10. Joel Anthony - It's Year 3 of the Joel Project. There isn't a teammates he hasn't embarrassed with a ferocious dunk or block in practice. But in games, there isn't a low-post entry pass he hasn't been able to fumble away. The shot-blocker remains as raw as Eddie Murphy in that purple leather suit in 1987.

9. Jamaal Magloire - Arguably the best offseason move the Heat made was bringing back the Big Cat. Yes, it's been that kind of summer. Still, D. Wade got back his bodyguard and the Heat got back an intimidating defender and rebounder for those moments Jermaine O'Neal feels an indifference toward loose balls.

8. Quentin Richardson- Q may have an opportunity to start at SF for the simple fact that no one else has stepped up yet. Trading Mark Blount for someone who could sing the national anthem every night would have been a productive trade for Miami. So getting a double-figure scorer in Richardson should almost register a coup.

7. Daequan Cook- Last year's 3-point All-Star shootout champ may be nearing a crossroads. The mid-first-round draft status, the inconsistent play and the nagging injury concerns could put Cook (above, left) on course for Dorellwrightville instead of a key rotation role if he doesn't get it going early this season. 

6. James Jones- Miam's 2008 top free-agent pickup missed most of last season with a wrist injury that has altered his stroke. He finished as the starting SF when since-departed Jamario Moon was hurt. Jones must prove he is what the Heat thought he was when he got that 5-year partially guaranteed deal. 

5. Udonis Haslem- Debate, if you must, UD's value. Argue that he is standing in the way of Michael Beasley's development if he continues to start at power forward. But no one on the team has sacrificed as much to focus almost exclusively on the dirty work, played through as many injuries and has exhausted every ounce of his ability as Haslem (left, with Beasley in background). 

4. Mario Chalmers - Riley has put a lot of faith and trust in the second-year point guard. Enough to say he wouldn't sign anyone to start ahead of Chalmers, despite glaring needs, this summer. That puts a ton of pressure on Chalmers. Sure, Wade handles the ball a lot. But Mario's essentially all there is at PG on the roster. 

3. Jermaine O'Neal - Jermaine has declined media interviews this summer to focus on getting healthy. Fine. Actions speak much louder than words. And his action on the court will determine how much of a contender Miami will be this season. Set to collect $23 million this season in the final year of his deal, Jermaine is being paid like a superstar. He needs to perform at something close to an All-Star - or at least the second-best center in the Southeast Division. 

2. Michael Beasley - Regardless of which side you fall on the Beasley debate, here's what you need to ask yourself about last year's No. 2 overall pick: If - and it's a colossal IF - Wade does the unthinkable and bounces next summer as a free agent, can Beasley anchor the franchise through what is sure to be a difficult regrouping, rebuilding, rehabilitation process? Could he offer the stability Chris Paul does in New Orleans? The production and promise Kevin Durant exudes in Oklahoma City? The leadership, steadiness and upside Derrick Rose already shows in Chi-town? I don't think Beasley has convinced the Heat of any of this yet. This season may go a long way in doing so. 

1. Dwyane Wade - From movie deals to real estate contracts to new shoe endorsements, D. Wade has put his signature on seemingly every binding document placed before him this summer. Except one: That contract extension to commit long-term right now to the Miami Heat. Because of the power and influence he holds at this moment, Wade is the most important person in the history of the franchise. If he walks next summer as a free agent, the Heat must start from scratch. Almost in the form of 1988 all over again as far as NBA relevance. Pat Riley's reputation would take a huge hit. Because it would not only mean the Hall of Famer ended his coaching career with the worst season in franchise history two seasons ago, he would also be the executive who oversaw Wade's departure after gambling the franchise's future on 2010. Unless you can rebound with a LeBron James or Kobe Bryant signing, no amount of cap space could buy back the credibility of the franchise. Having said all of that, Wade only has to do three things to make this all work out the way it should for Miami: Avoid a major injury this season, get the Heat back into the playoffs to make things interesting and re-sign for $120 million over six years next summer.

(For live news, notes and updates on the Heat, follow me on Twitter @ twitter.com/wallacesports. To post a question or join our live Heat chat each Thursday from 1-2 p.m., click here.)