Wright Gives Up Number to Penny

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Considering how stagnant the Heat has remained this offseason, it would be easy to go into next week's start of training camp pooh-poohing the entire experience.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>Yes, there will be questions about Shaquille O'Neal's weight, the health of Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams, the mindset of Antoine Walker after such a disturbing offseason.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>But that's all off-the-court study.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>A week out, there also is an anticipation here about the team's all-day sessions at AmericanAirlines Arena. Foremost: How good is Dorell Wright? And how mature?</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>When considering X-factors for 2007-08, consider what having an athletic, lengthy, active forward could do for the Heat. In many ways, it could offset concern about all those who got away this summer. (Yes, a Dorell Wright as advertised three years ago could do more for this team's future that another season would have with Jason Kapono, James Posey or Eddie Jones.)</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>For three years, Wright has shortchanged his conditioning, failed to develop a basketball IQ. Camp should mean as much to him as any player on the roster. Pardon the dramatics, but his career is on the line, not just with the Heat, but in the NBA.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>Yes, camp can be dreary. Yes, the veterans maddeningly will pace themselves. But priority No. 1 should be player No. 1.</span></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style=""> </span>(By the way Penny Hardaway has taken No. 7. Wright was willing to relinquish his No. 1 so Hardaway could retain his long-time number, but the league informed the Heat it was too late in the process for such switches.)<span style=""></div></span></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><span style="">Source: Sun Sentinel Blog
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