<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The Heat will take a short-term approach to filling its voids. Any potential targets would essentially be stopgap options. That's because the larger plan is to create maximum salary-cap space for the summer of 2010, when Wade, Cleveland's LeBron James, Toronto's Chris Bosh and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire could be among a crop of elite free agents. ''The hardest thing is to convince free agents to take short money,'' Riley said. ``I hate to use 2010 as this abyss. If you make decisions to rebuild early and leave that open, you're not protecting your flank. We don't know what Dwyane's going to do, and we have to protect ourselves. We think we're going to be good enough when he's going to want to extend. We need to show other free agents we have room -- a max contract -- to be taken seriously.'' Therefore, the Heat would be reluctant to -- if not dead-set against -- offering any deals longer than two years, with an option for a third season in rare cases. The challenge is to surround Wade and Beasley with the right pieces, with only the midlevel exception (projected at $6 million) and a biannual veterans exception ($1.9 million) to offer. That time-and-budget-conscious approach could take the Heat out of play for point guards such as Sacramento's Beno Udrih and Chicago's Chris Duhon, who already have drawn interest from teams willing to offer multiyear deals. Less-expensive options could include Orlando's Carlos Arroyo, a former FIU standout; the return of former Heat guard Keyon Dooling from the Magic; re-signing Jason Williams at drastic pay cut from the $8.9 million he earned last season; or standing pat with those already on the Heat roster. Marcus Banks has three seasons left on his contract, Chris Quinn is a restricted free agent, and Chalmers, a rookie, could play on a non-guaranteed deal. Miami also could expand its options as a potential major player in trades, with Marion's expiring $17.8 million contract and forward Udonis Haslem, with two years left at $13.7 million, as chips. But Riley said intentions are to build around the nucleus of Wade, Beasley, Haslem and Marion instead of blowing it up -- for now. The Heat also must decide which of its own free agents to bring back. Ricky Davis, the lone player to appear in all 82 games last season, said he would consider a two-year deal. But the interest might not be mutual. That might, too, be the case for Jason Williams, who started at point guard on the Heat's 2006 title team but did not appear to be in the team's plans heading into the offseason. Center Alonzo Mourning, 38, is recovering from knee surgery but plans to play another season. Forward Dorell Wright, also recovering from knee surgery, was given a $2.4 million qualifying offer and is a restricted free agent. Reserve center Earl Barron said he was unsure of his future in Miami. ''There are so many scenarios; you never really know what can happen,'' Barron said. ``Trades, sign-and-trades. The next couple of weeks, I'll get a good feel for where I'll be or where I'll be going.''</div> Source: Miami Herald
