The conversation is still as vivid today as it was when Quentin Richardson first sat down with coach Erik Spoelstra after the swingman arrived in a trade over the summer.

The gist of it was this: If Richardson (pictured right, blocking a shot) wanted to have a meaningful role with the Heat and be more than an expiring contract at the end of the bench, he'd have to do at least two things. First, get in condition. Second, do something he's never really been asked to do before in previous stops: Defend.

Richardson took care of the first objective and reported to camp after having dropped about 25 pounds. Among his secrets to shedding the weight, in addition to routine hard work?

"I stopped drinking alcohol," Richardson said. "I used to be a casual drinker, really. But I don't even do that any more. The only mixed drinks I have is when I mix those Crystal Light packs. I try to come up with all kind of combinations of them to make them taste better."

Now, Richardson is doing his part to take care of that other little request from Spoelstra. Known throughout his career as a streaky scorer and long-distance shooter, Richardson is now exploring the other side of his game - the one that might actually lead to steady playing time with the Heat this season.

Richardson was cast in the role of the Heat's perimeter stopper of sorts when he started at small forward alongside shooting guard Dwyane Wade and point guard Mario Chalmers in Miami's preseason win against New Orleans last Thursday in Kansas City.

He responded with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 25 minutes. Granted, Richardson only got the start because Beasley was shifted to power forward in a move to give normal starter Udonis Haslem a rest. But what Richardson is auditioning for are those 18 to 24 minutes a game that could be available behind Wade and Beasley on the perimeter this season.

Those are also minutes that Daequan Cook, James Jones and - to an extent - Yakhouba Diawara and Dorell Wright are battling for entering the season. With two preseason games and less than 10 days remaining before the Oct. 28 opener against New York, nothing is settled with the rotation.

Spoelstra said Monday that he'd like to play an eight- or nine-man mix this season and settle an issue of continuity that was never resolved with last year's team. While each man has had his moments, Richardson (pictured left) is hoping his balance of deep shooting, defense and downright swagger on the court might give him an eventual edge in the rotation run-off.

"When (Spoelstra) brought me here, he told me one of the only ways I would earn playing time is by going out there and stopping people," said Richardson, who has played in up-tempo, run-and-gun systems in Phoenix and New York. "That wasn't a surprise to me. Maybe it was to the general public. I come from a system where there weren't a whole lot of (defensive) principles. This is the most defensive-conscious system I've been in by far. People are being held accountable."

(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.)

KANSAS CITY - This one was mainly about Mario and Mike. So it goes without saying that there was no lack of motivation entering Thursday night's preseason game against the New Orleans Hornets.

This was a homecoming of sorts for Heat forward Michael Beasley and point guard Mario Chalmers, who played their college ball at Kansas State and Kansas, respectively. Returning to the same court where they led their college teams in Big 12 Conference Tournaments, Beasley and Chalmers helped the Heat end its preseason skid.

Thursday's 97-81 victory against the Hornets won't count in the standings, but the team certainly didn't render it meaningless. After losing its first four preseason games, the Heat wants to finish the seven-game exhibition slate with some momentum going into the Oct. 28 opener against New York.

Chalmers continued to turn around his slow start to the preseason with his third straight solid performance at the point, guiding the Heat's offense and spearheading its defense. Beasley nearly had a double-double in the first half, but was slowed by foul trouble before finding his rhythm again late to close with 11 points and 11 boards. Cook continued his hot shooting of late from three-point range.

"What he saw from me tonight, coach said he's going to need that all season," Chalmers said. "I was hyped. It felt like we were running in the Fieldhouse at Kansas again. I liked that feeling." 

About the only bad thing to come out of Thursday's game was another ailment for Dwyane Wade, who started after missing two games but left with five minutes left in the third quarter with a calf bruise.

D. WADE'S DOINGS: Wade was back on the court after sitting out two games with a strained muscle in his left rib cage. He made several explosive plays, including three dunks. He finished with 14 points, six assists and three rebounds in 23 minutes. But Wade was knocked to the floor twice in the third quarter and left the game with five minutes left in the period with the calf bruise. He was treated by trainers and team physician Harlan Selesnick while sitting on the bench and did not return. With the Heat out of action until Wednesday's home game against Memphis, Wade could use the rest. "I think I kicked myself," Wade said. "It's just a bruise, hopefully. We'll have to see after therapy. I'm used to it. You do what you have to do to get back and ready."

TURNING POINT: Perhaps it was the pregame introductions. The announced attendance of 17,116 at the Sprint Center was clearly behind the Heat. And when Wade, Beasley and Chalmers were introduced, the place went crazy. That momentum carried the Heat out to a 26-19 lead in the first quarter. Miami never looked back. By the early stages of the second half, the Heat was ahead by 24 points. They made the game look relatively easy this time after finding plenty of ways to falter in earlier games.

WINNING EDGE: The numbers in two key areas tell the story. The Heat had 23 assists and 10 turnovers. It helps when the starting backcourt of Wade and Chalmers combine for 11 assists and just 2 turnovers. Nine different Heat players had assists, with four dishing at least three. "When we share the basketball, good things tend to happen," Spoelstra said. "That's been the other way around in some other games."

HEAD-SCRATCHER: Beasley, Chalmers and Hornets forward Julian Wright held a joint pregame press conference because of the media demand surrounding their return to the region where they were college stars. Beasley played at Kansas State, of course. Wright and Chalmers were at Kansas. During the conference, Beasley was asked what surprised him the most about his adjustment to the NBA. In typical Beasley fashion, he turned the question into a setup for a punchline. His answer: "First thing I noticed is how big my family got." And Beasley wasn't talking about his infant daughter. He was referring to the cousins, uncles and other long, lost relatives who resurfaced.

KEY CONTRIBUTION: Let's split this between Carlos Arroyo and Joel Anthony. Arroyo, playing his second game since joining the Heat on Monday, had six points and three assists in 18 minutes as the backup point guard. You can see that his timing is coming around. He was off in Wednesday's game, but turned that performance around Thursday. Anthony was 4 of 4 from the field. Yes, that Joel Anthony. He had 8 points and 3 blocks. The Heat got 6 blocks from the center position, with Jermaine O'Neal adding 3.

NEXT UP: Grizzlies at Heat, 7:30 Wednesday (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.)

Clearing out the mind and notebook as the flight to Wednesday’s Heat-Thunder preseason game reaches cruising altitude. Consider it the misdirection exhibition tour.

 

After the game in Tulsa against Oklahoma City, the Heat heads to Kansas City to play New Orleans. Go figure. Still trying to figure out how last preseason offered a trip to Paris and London and this year counters with Tulsa and Kansas City. Again, go figure.

 

THE ARROYO-AL TREATMENT: There was a slice of it after Tuesday’s practice, when new Heat guard Carlos Arroyo had what amounted to his own personal media day The Puerto Rico native and former FIU standout signed with the Heat on Monday.

 

TV, radio and newspaper reporters from Spanish media outlets engulfed Arroyo after Tuesday’s practice. Considering the market, there was a genuine excitement and interest. Arroyo is believed to be the first native Spanish-speaking player in Heat history. And who said his signing with the Heat wouldn’t have an impact on and off the court?

 

“It’s been great,” Arroyo said of the reaction. “It’s an honor to be here and to be home.”

 

BEASLEY’S WIN-WIN-WIN SITUATION: Count forward Michael Beasley among Heat players who believe Arroyo is just the sort of addition second-year starting point guard Mario Chalmers needed. With a savvy, proven veteran to contend with in practice every day, Chalmers gets a taste of what Beasley goes through with Udonis Haslem.

 

“Some of the guys who have been in here – not to downgrade guys, but – (Chalmers) has been a landslide better than them,” Beasley said of a group that has consisted of Chris Quinn, Marcus Banks, Shaun Livingston, Luther Head and current camp hopeful John Lucas. “Carlos can do it all. (Chalmers) not only has somebody to go head to head against, but somebody to look up to and to learn from.”

 

WADE AND SEE: Dwyane Wade acknowledged Tuesday that his current rib strain is near the same spot as the injury he sustained during the 2004-05 season that lingered into the playoffs. But Wade said this recent ailment pales in comparison to the anguish he felt four years ago.

 

“If it was that bad, I wouldn’t even be out here,” Wade said after practice. “I wouldn’t even be trying to play.” Wade worked out extensively the past two days, with a focus on conditioning. He essentially wore a “yellow jersey” in scrimmage sessions, meaning he was completely off limits for contact. Wade said he would consider wearing protective padding around his rib cage if he plays this week. From the sounds of Tuesday’s practice, Wade, at best, might appear in one game and skip the other.

 

SPARRING SESSION: Jermaine O’Neal said he expects to play the back-to-back set against the Thunder and Hornets after he missed the previous two games with a bruised foot.

 

There is absolutely nothing he could face in those games more demanding and brutal than the low-post sparring sessions he’s had after practice against assistant coach Keith Askins. Make that Askins and two huge, thick “bash pads” Askins basically used as weapons to pound on O’Neal as he practiced low-post scoring moves. O’Neal managed to hold his own at times, but Askins did little to hurt his reputation as “Kick Ass-kins.”

 

“It’s a different kind of conditioning in here,” O’Neal said. “I look forward to getting back on the court and getting my timing and everything back.”

 

FUNNY EXCHANGE: Beasley, if nothing else, is still providing the comic relief. Before Sunday’s game against San Antonio, Beasley and Yakhouba Diawara had a hilarious exchange. Beasley picked on Diawara because of his deep French accent. Diawara, a Pepperdine grad, shot back: “I’m an educated man. Put Pepperdine against wherever you went, college dropout. Did you even stay long enough to major?”

 

Beasley, who spent one season at Kansas State before leaving to become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, didn’t hesitate. “Yeah, I had a major. My major was Bucketology. You don’t know about that. I mastered in getting buckets.”

 

(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.)

Finally.

It took three preseason games, multiple injuries that depleted the backcourt depth and shaky play from the starter at the position. But the Heat finally added a much-needed, veteran presence at the point.

The team on Monday signed free agent Carlos Arroyo (pictured right, driving against Wade) to a non-guaranteed, make-good contract. And if anyone has seen either Arroyo or the Heat play recently, the assumption is that not only will he make this roster, he might even play a meaningful role.

First things first. This is not a referendum on Mario Chalmers. The kid is the starter. He'll be the starter as far as the team is concerned. But now, Mario finally has a legitimate push to get better every day in practice and to perform at a consistent level in games.

No, Carlos Arroyo isn't an absolute answer at point guard. That much should be taken from the fact that he was sitting at home in Pinecrest three weeks into the NBA training camp season for the first time in his career without a team. But Arroyo, 30, does add the playmaking skills to effectively run the Heat's pick-and-roll.

He also knows how to shoot and score. Is he a pure defensive stopper at point guard? Hardly. But who is in this league right now? Is he a solid upgrade at a position where the Heat was essentially scratching the NBA's equivalent of rock-bottom behind Chalmers? Absolutely. And on top of that, this makes Dwyane Wade a bit happier. That could be just as vital.

Arroyo has been in this sort of role before. Just two years ago, he was in Orlando and considered a serious threat to the anointed point-guard-of-the-future there. A guy by the name of Jameer Nelson. Arroyo left as a free agent two summers ago. The only time you can really question his decision making was when he and agent Leon Rose thought too highly of his open-market value and turned down NBA jobs to play overseas.

Now Arroyo is back in the NBA. He says he'll accept any role he's given by the Heat. But he made certain to mention that he could "run the show."

"It was about being in the right position," Arroyo (pictured left, having his FIU jersey retired last year) said after his first practice with the Heat on Monday. "I had to be patient to wait for this opportunity. To be honest, I've never been at home at this time. I'm usually in training camp. I've been working out and waiting on the call. For the first time, I can use my house and not have to move."

Arroyo, who lives in Pinecrest and was a star at FIU, said he's been trying to get on with the Heat since he left college. But timing and contract amounts always prevented it from happening. He now comes at the right price for the Heat, on a non-guaranteed deal that will pay him the veteran's minimum of $1.1 million for a player with seven seasons of experience. That's only if he's still around in mid-January.

He also comes at the right time in terms of having a chance to address the Heat's needs. Mario shouldn't feel threatened, but he will certainly be challenged. Dwyane Wade essentially agreed Monday, when he said he wouldn't try to console Chalmers if there were any feelings of anxiety right now about his status, which there aren't. But he was still making a point.

"It'll be good for (Chalmers)," Wade said of the day-to-day competition Chalmers (below right) will face.

If things work out as planned, the Heat gets a solid backup point guard on the cheap who also happens to be a hometown hero of sorts. Don't discount the fact that Arroyo could be a crowd favorite, especially among the Latino and Hispanic communities if he performs up to task. And that can't hurt the Heat's bottom line at a time when it has to curtain off the upper deck of the arena to hide empty seats.

This means Chris Quinn, who is out at least a week with a sprained right foot, will fall back to a third-string option, which is probably where he belongs. No shame in that. The kid works his tail off and will qualify for an NBA pension after this season.

This means that John Lucas became even longer of a long shot to make the roster, despite being one of the really good guys in camp who also happens to be a productive spark plug off the bench.

This means team president Pat Riley is off the hook for now in his reluctance, albeit understandable on many levels, to initially address the point guard position before unfortunate things had to happen.

This means coach Erik Spoelstra no longer has to cover up what might be his true feelings about his concerns at the position, even though the good soldier Spo offered this gem on Monday: "We've been going through a lot of decision making. Unlike, I guess, some of you (media), we weren't in a panic situation. We wanted to make the right move. And this is the right move right now."

Most of all, this means the Heat stacks up a little bit better - top to bottom - at the point than it did yesterday. And that's the ultimate point. The most obvious void on the roster is a little less obvious right now.

Finally.

(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.)

Ouch.

That's about all you could say when the doors to the AmericanAirlines Arena practice courts opened to the media Saturday afternoon. At first glance, there was no Dwyane Wade. No Jermaine O'Neal. No Quentin Richardson. No Dorell Wright. No Chris Quinn.

OK. So maybe the absences of Wright and Quinn don't necessarily rise to the level of national concern. But still. Upon further review and scanning of the court, the aforementioned group was together, sitting on chairs alongside the court watching practice.

They are now the M.A.S.H. unit. Officially. Wade sat out practice and will miss Sunday's game against San Antonio with what the team is calling a left intercostal strain. What that means is unexplained soreness in the tissue and muscles within his left rib cage.

Wade insists the injury he sustained during the third quarter of Wednesday's loss at Orlando isn't serious. He said he would play Sunday if it were a regular season game. He said his breathing is relatively painless. But just the thought of Wade suffering anything close to an injury should make anyone in the Heat organization struggle to catch their breath.

"It's a precaution," Wade assured of his ailment, one he never mentioned after the Orlando game or before he underwent an MRI test Friday. "It's nothing real serious. I've got a long season ahead of me. I'm not trying to be a hero right now."

OK, cool. For the Heat's sake, the hope is that Wade's pain goes away in short order. Because the first thing I thought about after finding out about his ailment was he's had a rib issue before. One that hit during the 2004-05 season and lingered into the playoffs. Maybe those were two separate rib issues. But still.

Now, Wade is at the top of a long list of Heat training camp injury concerns. That process of trying to bounce back from two sluggish performances in losses to Detroit and Orlando has taken a bit of a detour.

Not only will Wade miss Sunday's game, Jermaine O'Neal (foot) is expected to miss his second straight game and backup guard Chris Quinn is now out for at least a week with a sprained right foot. That one was courtesy of Michael Beasley, who fell on Quinny's foot during Friday's practice. Quinn (pictured left) was in a walking boot Saturday. His absence further weakens the Heat's depth at point guard.

And it was a spot where the Heat could least afford any losses. But if you've followed this blog the past few days, you'd know that this sort of falls in with the last topic in the previous post. Is there a silver lining in here somewhere? Perhaps. Because now, the Heat almost certainly has to address the point guard spot.

Heat president Pat Riley sat beside owner Micky Arison during Saturday's practice. Chances are, the need to put out a want ad came up during their conversation. The Heat is reluctant to plunge further into the luxury tax (it is $3 million deep right now) by adding a veteran free agent on anything other than a non-guaranteed contract. But this opens the door for a potential trade, something Riley would consider before he digs through the PGs-on-the-street scrap heap.

You've heard the names. Bobby Jackson. Ty Lue. Brevin Knight. Jamaal Tinsley. Stephon Marbury. Perhaps the Heat would be better served swinging a deal for a reunion with Skip Alston (pictured below right) or Keyon Dooling. The Heat does have options. There are $4.2 million and $800K trade exceptions. There are the $5.7 mid-level and $2 million lower level exceptions. And there is an assortment of expiring contracts.

Certainly, the Heat could pawn off a spare small forward in exchange for a spare point guard. Or maybe, just maybe, John Lucas III can make the most of his opportunity and make the roster in the process.

The Heat has reached critical condition with its point guard depth. And not even emergency options such as Daequan Cook (thumb), Wade (ribs) and Richardson (ankle) are readily available. At least not right now. Yes, the official word is that the injuries are far from being considered serious. None are expected to threaten anyone's availability for the Oct. 28 season opener.

But still. It's why one word came to mind when those doors to the practice court opened Saturday and the injury news was delivered.

Ouch.  

(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.)

It's only two preseason games. That's the universal retort from just about every level of the Miami Heat operation - from team president Pat Riley at the top to the last man on the training camp roster.

No need to panic. No cause for legitimate concern. No reason to jump ship. And it's absolutely too soon to reconsider the matters of depth (or lack thereof) at point guard, Beasley's comfort zone (or lack thereof) so far at small forward or any other matter that has hit the Heat already.

It's only two preseason games. That's the message. And while that is a reasonable response to the nagging little issues, it is unreasonable to simply dismiss these pesky little problems that could develop into a pattern and eventually lead to major concerns.

An 0-2 start in the preseason is hardly reason enough to abandon any long-term plans and declare AmericanAirlines Arena a potential disaster area this season. But if you're starting to sweat as a Heat fan and your patience is growing a little thin already, that early onset anxiety is a bit understandable.

You were told all throughout the offseason that this team was working hard. You were told that there was a grand plan in place and to be patient this season. You were told that there would be significant internal improvement with a roster that returned largely intact from last season's first-round playoff run. You were told going into training camp that guys were shattering conditioning tests, that chemistry and continuity would equate to a hitting of the ground running, that this team would prove a lot of doubters wrong.

While all of those things could easily turn out to be true, what you've seen after two preseason test runs is that the concerns many had at the end of last season are still legitimate going into this season.

Make no mistake. This is a playoff team with playoff expectations and even loftier ambitions. Dwyane Wade's presence alone dictates that much.

But point guard play is going to be an issue. Beasley's development is going to be a lengthy work in progress. Wade's patience is going to be extensively tested. The bodies of Jermaine O'Neal and Daequan Cook and Dorell Wright may continue to be fragile. As Wade said the other day, a lot has to go right for this team to be good this season.

But if there is good news already, it might be in the fact that this team will face adversity early. It already is facing some this preseason. That's why this seven-game stretch of exhibitions can't simply be dismissed as "only preseason games" by this team or its fanbase.

No, these games don't count in the standings. But they will go a long way in determining where a lot of people stand. There's a really, really, really good chance for significant progress as the month rolls along.

There is no prosperity to be gained in the preseason. But there should be promise. Coach Erik Spoelstra said what we've seen over these two preseason games is not indicative of what took place behind closed doors during training camp. But now the lights are on. The doors are open.

And so is the public preseason inspection. It's no longer about what you heard during the offseason. It's now about what you see. Yes, patience is required. But performance does matter. Even in the preseason. Even after only two games.  

(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.

(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.)

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.)

FRIDAY, OCT. 2 - You know him as Dorell Wright. But to the Miami Heat, after all that's transpired with him over the past two-plus seasons, he's considered the oldest young dude on the roster.

In a bit of a surprise development, Wright's name repeatedly rolled off coach Erik Spoelstra's tongue after Friday's morning practice session at AmericanAirlines Arena. But it wasn't for anything Wright necessarily did right on the court. As has been the case the past 18 months, Dorell was mentioned in the context of continued concern over the status of his surgically repaired left knee.

Wright was held out of the late stages of Friday's morning session because of continued concern/treatment/precaution with his knee. Wright has done several remarkable things to get himself ready to jump-start his career again. Yes, he was the Heat's first-round draft pick in 2004. But we hardly know him.

His first two seasons were limited by a lack of development after he was drafted directly out of prep school. His next season and a half saw his tremendous athletic potential get undercut by a bout or two of immaturity. And his past season and a half have been plagued by injuries.

Here's all you need to know about Wright. In six seasons, he's played a total of 139 games. In two seasons, Daequan Cook has played 134.

Bad breaks. Missed opportunities. Unfavorable roster circumstances. Injuries. Take your pick. They've all been equal parts responsible for Wright truly being on his last leg with the Heat entering the final year of his contract this season.

And he's not yet even 24 years old. This is why you can't just give up on the kid.

Spoelstra tempered his concern over Wright's knee on Friday, the same knee that limited him to just six games last season. The official word was that his absence from the end of practice was precautionary and designed to place him in better condition to compete in the day's afternoon workout.

But Spoelstra also revealed that there is continued swelling. He also said that Wright has been on the same treatment program Dwyane Wade went through last summer with noted trainer Tim Grover. If Wright can ever get right, it would be a big bonus for the Heat. It's not too late for him to be considered a steal.

But the clock is about to run out of ticks. Still, there is faith.

"Yeah," Spoelstra shot back Friday when asked if Wright can truly get past his predicaments. "Why not? He got hurt. That's what last year was about. He never had enough days where he could string enough (consistently impressive work) together. He put in a lot of work this summer. That's no guarantee. He lost 10 pounds, but kept his strength. He's put himself in position to get through camp."

But then what? Where will Wright go from there if he can get through camp? That's a question the Heat has been waiting for Wright to answer since a GM (Randy Pfund) who is no longer here signed off on picking a player who has yet to really arrive for the Heat.

NEWS OF THE DAY: Spoelstra said he would like to play veterans such as Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal and Udonis Haslem about 24 minutes in the Heat's initial preseason games, which begin Monday night at Detroit and conclude with a pair of back-to-back sets in advance of the Oct. 28 season opener against New York.

Haslem said NBA players approach the preseason in a different way than NFL veterans, who typically see increased playing time gradually over the first three games before resting for the final exhibition.

"The consistency is different," Haslem said. "NFL guys play one quarter the first game, two the second, and so on. But in basketball, it's hard for guys to pace themselves like that. My mind state is to get myself ready to go as many minutes as I'm given the opportunity. I can't pace myself. I only know one way to play. Preseason basketball is still basketball."

FRIDAY'S SOUNDBITE: Wade, a Chicago-area native, was asked for his reaction to the Windy City suffering a shocking blow Friday, when it was quickly passed over by the IOC for the right to host the 2016 Olympics. That prize went to Rio de Janeiro, which beat out Madrid, Japan and the U.S.

"It's simple. It sucks," Wade said. "We were hopeful we could have gotten the Olympics. To (finish) in the fourth spot is not ideal. So it's unfortunate."

With his international appeal on the rise again after ranking in the top five among NBA players in world-wide jersey sales, Wade was then asked if he wished he could have traveled to Copenhagen, Obama-style, to help his hometown make its pitch. "No," Wade said. "That wasn't going to happen. Not with us being fourth." 

(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.)