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Riley says he will coach the Heat for three more seasons

MIAMI — Heat president Pat Riley said Monday he has decided to coach the team for three more seasons, and insisted he's "not done" re-shaping the team's roster this off-season.

"This is what I love doing," he said, adding it was a difficult decision to continue coaching and one that "I put a lot of thought into."

He said he spoke with owner Micky Arison and decided, "I don't want to be a one-and-done guy every year. I have three years left on my contract, and I will try to coach those out unless someone else makes a decision on me. That's a commitment I want to make to the organization.

"After the two rebuilding years, I was absolutely burnt out. Three or four years ago, I was looking to get out of it totally. I don't feel that way anymore. During the years of losing, I wanted to go to Mt. Everest. That has changed."

Riley, 62, who said he has no health problems, said it's purely coincidental that Shaquille O'Neal's contract also runs three more years and that Dwyane Wade can opt out of his contract at that point, too.

In other issues, Riley said the starting point guard job is wide open, said he would be "happy" to open the season with Antoine Walker at small forward if a trade doesn't net a starter there, and said "we're right up with the rest" of the Eastern Conference despite several other teams making big-name acquisitions this off-season:

—Midway through a quiet off-season (Smush Parker and Penny Hardaway have been the top acquisitions), Riley said he continues to pursue trades.

"We have $14-$20 million in one year contracts if we added them all up to do something," he said. (That would include Jason Williams at $8.9 million and Michael Doleac at $3.13 million, plus several other smaller contracts.)

"We're not done. It's only Aug. 13," he said. "There are a lot of discussions going on and it's not just about free agents. We're not finished by any stretch of the imagination . . .

"I understand the prognosticators who say we are taking a step back when everyone else is taking a step forward. We feel like we're right in the game and looking real hard at doing some things to help this team . . . We're still a very good team."

—Asked if Williams enters camp as the starting point guard, Riley said the position "is wide open," with Smush Parker being given a chance to unseat him.

Williams has missed 44 games over the past two seasons. "We need a guy that's out there 70 games a year," Riley said. "Jason has worked extremely hard. We send a therapist to see him in Orlando every two weeks. We need stability night in and night out.

"A lot will be based on who's healthy. If Jason is healthy enough to compete every day in practice and . . . game, it will be a great battle . . . I like the addition of Smush Parker. He can make the three. He has size."

—Riley said he would be comfortable starting Walker on opening night, pointing out he was the Heat's starting small forward during its championship run, but said Walker must play better than he did last season. But he continues exploring trade options at small forward beyond Walker and Dorell Wright, though he did say Wright has grown to 6-10-1/2 and might be ready for a "break-out year."

He said the team "likes" restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus "because of his defensive abilities. The only way it's going to happen is with a sign-and-trade. We've talked a lot about the possibilities with him." But discussions between the Heat and Golden State haven't produced a deal, and Pietrus is exploring another undisclosed option, his agent said.

—Riley didn't sound optimistic about re-signing James Posey: "We're in conversations with him, but the reality is the reality. . . . We don't want to be a tax team." (The Heat is about $1 million above the $68 million tax threshold.)

—Riley said he didn't save the Heat's entire $5.3 million mid-level exception for a small forward, such as Pietrus, because point guard "was a greater need for us." Smush Parker got $2.2 million of the Heat's mid-level exception.

—Though Boston (Kevin Garnett), New York (Zach Randolph) and Orlando (Rashard Lewis) made major acquisitions, Riley pointed out the teams also lost players this summer, including Orlando (Grant Hill and Darko Milicic).

Riley said he doesn't think last year's top teams in the East — Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland — have improved. "They got a year older," he said. "Our best player was 50 percent at the end of the year. We weren't a very good team last year. It doesn't mean we can't be what we were the year before. Don't let last year's exit change your thinking."

Of the Heat's relatively quiet off-season, Riley said, "It's not for lack of trying" and also said the team probably waited too long for a response from point guard Mo Williams, who re-signed with Milwaukee.

—Riley said he extended to Eddie Jones the same $1.8 million offer that Jones accepted from Dallas. "I told Eddie I wanted him back at our exit meeting," Riley said. "For some reason, he moved on."

—Of Hardaway's signing, Riley said, Penny will bring us what Eddie did. He's in great shape, he's a playmaker, he's a veteran. He can really help a team. He's been great with rookies Jeremy Richardson and Daequan Cook."

—The Heat already has lost one of its top perimeter defenders (Jones) and seems likely to lose the other (Posey). "But we have guys than can guard," Riley maintained.

—Riley declined to make a definitive statement about Gary Payton, who is not expected back. Riley said he has left two phone messages with Payton and wants to speak with him first

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