A Team in Search...

The Miami Heat's training camp opened with Media Day, in which several staff with the Heat spoke to reporters about the upcoming season.

Pat Riley was not confident that forward Dorell Wright will be able to participate in any of training camp's activities. Wright is recovering from a meniscal tear in his left knee which sidelined him for the final 24 games of the season. Wright had surgery to repair the damage.

When it was first announced that Wright would be back with the Heat, I didn't expect Shawn Marion to stay with Miami for long. Even at this point, I can't fathom why Pat Riley would sign Dorell Wright and keep all of his forwards. The Wright ship has sailed. The training camp will allow James Jones and Yakhouba Diawara to gel with this new-look team. Unless Marion is traded, then Riles just wasted money by re-signing Wright.

Riley also expressed concern with Udonis Haslem, who has been somewhat limited with a toe injury. I know that Haslem plays through pain frequently, but Riles may not want to raise the possibility of this injury augmenting into a more serious one. Haslem said all the right things in interviews, saying he embraces the challenge of his the starting spot he has retained for the past four season. However, this injury may give Michael Beasley a chance to unseat Haslem.

Riley said that he does not plan to sign another player, due to Miami's proximity to the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax. Hm. So does that mean Alonzo Mourning won't be re-signed when he is healthy? I think people are smart enough on this one. Riles also said that he will keep undrafted guard Jason Richards, who tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. Something tells me he'll be the one to go if Mourning comes back.

I said at the beginning of this off-season that it was the most important of the team's franchise. Just 27 months removed from being atop the basketball world, the Heat have fallen to futility. They still have Dwyane Wade and have drafted the versatile forward Michael Beasley. But even after a "C" off-season, Coach Erik Spoelstra does not know who he will even start. I felt that trading Marion would have only been common sense. His contract ends after this year, he's going to walk anyway, so why not receive from value from him while you can? He's also one of the few players who has getting interest from multiple teams. There's still time to trade. But it appears difficult to have a team with Marion, Beasley, Haslem, Wright, and Jones and keep them all satisfied. Besides, the Heat have more pressing needs (at the five).

If I had to guess, I'd say the starting lineup that will be announced at Madison Square Garden in a little over a month will be: Marcus Banks, Wade, Marion, Beasley, and Jamaal Magloire.