MIAMI -- At the Heat's media day on Monday, LeBron James looked like a man completely at peace. For more than 20 minutes during his news conference, James spoke calmly, with supreme confidence, fully cognizant of his long line of accomplishments at age 28, his golden place in history and his promising future.

“I want to be the greatest player of all time,” James said. “It’s that simple. But I’m far from that.”

James knows he’s the best basketball player on Earth, a two-time NBA champion and four-time MVP in his prime coming off the most lopsided MVP vote in league history. This past summer, he married his high-school sweetheart, traveled around Europe and watched his team reload after repeating as world champion. James has a lot to feel good about these days, to say the least.

But at Monday’s news conference, one thing seemed to rattle James while he sat on his figurative throne:

His lifelong battle with the free throw line.

The struggle

It’s the last area of the game he has yet to conquer.

What else is there? Last season, he ranked in the top five in scoring and eighth in assists. He shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range and raised his overall field goal percentage to a blistering 56.5 percent. He led his team in rebounds and committed a career-low 1.4 fouls per game. He topped the rest of the league in PER by a wide margin with a 31.7 rating and raised it to an astronomical 37.8 in clutch situations, according to NBA.com data.

The man who wants to be the greatest player of all time has pretty much mastered every technical skill in the book -- except for free throws, which just so happens to be the simplest skill of all. Just walk up to the line and shoot an uncontested shot from 15 feet. What’s so hard about that?

Nonetheless, James converted 75.3 percent of his free throws last season, which was the exact league average. Meanwhile, he is decidedly above-average in just about everything else. And he knows it, too. Which is why James made it his No. 1 priority this offseason (besides, you know, getting married).

Just before the Heat rode off into the summer sunset after winning the title, Heat boss Pat Riley said “our goal is to get [James] up over 90 percent from the free throw line.” But when asked about that bar on Monday, James laughed it off.

“Ninty percent is not the goal, that is out of control,” James said, shaking his head to a roomful of laughter. “Let me get to 80 percent first. Let me get to 78 percent.”

James didn’t pick up that 78 percent figure out of thin air. That’s his career high for a season, set in 2008-09 in Cleveland, which is slightly above his career rate of 74.7 percent. But on Monday, in one of the few moments when James was actually asked about on-court matters, he made his call.

“Eighty percent is the goal,” James said. “Hopefully what I've been able to do in the offseason can translate to the game. I’m very focused on it and it’s something that I want to improve, but we’ll see what happens.”

Is 80 percent really that far-fetched for James? Depends how you look at it.

Consider this: Across an entire NBA season, the difference between a 75 percent shooter and an 80 percent shooter is turning one miss into a make every three games. That’s it. But if it were easy for James to do that, he probably would have done it by now.

James’ longest stretch of games in a regular season during which he’s shot at least 80 percent? Try 42 games. And he did it in his rookie season. In fact, he’s never shot 80 percent in any 30-game stretch in a Heat uniform. All in all, becoming an 80 percent free throw shooter for an entire season would require doubling his longest stretch of 80 percent shooting in his career.

Given James’ mastery of the sport, how is this possible? The average American probably knows a friend, co-worker or family member who shot 80 percent at some level in his or her basketball career. This is probably why free throw shooting has become a fetish of the critical NBA fan. If Joe from around the corner can hit free throws at the neighborhood park, why can’t the best player in the world?

Repetition makes perfect?

James still hasn't figured out the riddle. His problem, he’ll tell you, is repetition. One of the first things you learn as a basketball player is to find a free throw routine. One dribble, spin, shoot. Three dribbles and up. Whatever it is, just stick to it. But James hasn't mastered that part. He tweaks and overhauls his routine probably dozens of times every season.

“Obviously it becomes mental at some point when you go up there,” James said. “For me, it’s mental, it’s not physical. One game you make 11 out of 12. Next game you shoot 6 out of 13. Then you change it ... which is crazy.”

To a basketball coach, it is just that -- crazy. James fully understands that this is certifiably irrational and probably detrimental. A player doesn't scrap his routine after a random fluctuation at the line, just like a baseball player doesn't overhaul his batting stance after going 0-for-4 on a Saturday afternoon. Knowing this, James tried to correct his approach this summer, but it led to a psychological tug-of-war.

“This offseason I just stuck to the same routine,” James said. “Even if I missed four or five in a row I just stuck to the same routine, just try to challenge myself. It went through my mind, ‘OK, it’s time to change.’ I was like, ‘No, stick to the same routine. Stick to the same shot.’ That was cool, I was able to do that all summer.”

What’s the longest he’s ever stuck to a routine?

“I don’t know, which is letting you know it’s not a good thing at all,” James said. “I shot 85 percent my freshman year in high school and after that, it was too easy to score and free throws didn't matter and it’s been downhill ever since.”

Putting it into action

As James sees it, he’s never needed to be elite at free throws to be elite. But with two NBA titles under his belt and “the greatest ever” distinction in sight, he has made it a top priority these days. In all likelihood, this is probably not the first offseason James has started from scratch. He’s probably tried every trick in the book to correct his free throw shot. Last season, he found some success emulating Ray Allen’s routine, but it wasn't long before he tweaked. Even after winning four MVPs, the random fluctuations still got to him.

“I can go in the gym during the offseason after my workout dead-tired and shoot 150 free throws and make 150 free throws,” James said. “That means absolutely nothing until you get out on the floor and you actually do it.”

James isn't alone in this struggle. A fascinating photo snapped by ESPN Radio’s Beto Duran last season informed us that at one point last season that Dwight Howard had made 82 percent of his 1,582 free throws in practice. 82 percent!

In games? Just 49.5 percent. But Howard wasn't the only one to buckle under the pressure. Even if we take Howard out of the equation, the Lakers’ free-throw percentage tumbled from 89 percent on the practice floor to 77 percent in real action. In other words, the Lakers went from Kevin Durant to LeBron James once the bright lights came on.

Though it’s unlikely that James actually reaches his goal next season, we probably shouldn't doubt him at this point either. Three seasons ago, James didn't have a reliable postgame or a knockdown 3-point shot. Now he has both. One-by-one James has turned almost all of his remaining weaknesses into strengths. The last skill standing is the free throw. If he figures that out, what then? The “greatest ever” tag may not be so far after all.

MIAMI -- When Pat Riley laid out his stash of NBA championship rings on a table in front of LeBron James three years ago in Cleveland, it was the climax of a dramatic and, ultimately, successful free-agency pitch that focused on the benefits of longevity and loyalty.

The Miami Heat superbly recruited the NBA's biggest star.

Now, it's all about retaining him.

Facing another decision on his future in a matter of months, the Heat continued a slew of moves Sunday to signal to James that he doesn't need to go anywhere but the shores of South Beach for his career to keep blossoming.

On the surface, Sunday's transaction was all about coach Erik Spoelstra, who agreed to a multiyear contract extension that came with a significant raise and likely a bigger voice in front-office and team personnel matters.

Having guided the Heat to the playoffs in all five of his seasons as coach, including three straight trips to the Finals and the past two titles since James arrived in 2010, Spoelstra certainly deserves every dime and added dose of front-office influence he'll get as part of his new deal.

The purpose here is that Spoelstra, the longest-tenured coach in the Eastern Conference, will never hit free agency at the end of this season. And better yet, by consummating the deal two days before the Heat head to the Bahamas to open training camp, Spoelstra now won't even have to answer questions during Monday's team media day about entering what set up as the last season on his contract.

In other words, good for Spoelstra. He's proved to be one of the brightest, most demanding, more innovative and accountable coaches in the league -- with or without James.

Spoelstra's deal came a day after the Heat announced front-office promotions of longtime staffers Andy Elisburg to general manager and Keith Askins to scouting director along with more prominent and visible roles for former players Tim Hardaway and Juwan Howard.

All of this movement sends two very strong messages to James as he enters the fourth year of a six-year contract with opt-out clauses after each of the next two seasons.

On one hand, James can now look to tremendous stability at the coaching and executive levels. His future, should he choose to stay long-term, will be tied to the same group of people who confidently assembled in that downtown Cleveland office building three years ago and lured him to the riches, rings and long-standing relationships in Miami.

And on the slightly more important other hand, James still sees the flexibility of the Heat's roster after this season -- which stands to offer the same blank slate and extensive salary-cap space, with teammates Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade also holding opt-out clauses in their contracts.

One way or the other, the Heat face a roster reload after this season. Either James, Wade and Bosh agree to stick around and the supporting cast is rebuilt around them. Or, James walks away from everything he said he wanted three years ago and relocates his talents to another NBA locale.

I totally believe James when he says he has absolutely no idea what he'll do after this season. I also believe Bosh, who suggested to reporters last week that this could be the Heat Big Three's final run together if the season finishes short of them winning their third straight championship.

There's enough uncertainty as it is around this team entering the season. That alone made it a wise move for Riley, as team president, and owner Micky Arison to shore up the power structure in the Heat's executive office suite.

Regardless of how he handles the media this season, James is certain to face plenty of questions in every NBA city about his potentially looming free agency.

The Heat, however, have positioned themselves from the top down to provide answers regarding their position.

Arison reduced his role last spring overseeing his Carnival Cruise Lines empire to, in part, focus more on the Heat.

Riley vowed that he wants to stick around to see James and the Heat become the next dynasty of a decade.

And Spoelstra won't have to leave to eventually develop into the coach-executive role his mentor Riley mastered.

This time around, Riley has more rings and even more clearly defined roles to bring to the table for James.

Now a newlywed, James won't need another lecture on loyalty as the Heat set out on the LeBron retention tour.

Sure, Sunday was essentially Spoelstra appreciation day.

But every Heat move -- on and off the court these next nine months -- is designed to go LeBron's way.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Ray Allen hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history last June when he made a 3-pointer in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to force overtime. The speed and execution of the shot -- Allen figuring out where the 3-point line was without looking down -- was breathtaking and instantly became iconic and the crux point of the entire series between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.

There’s been a small outcry, however, that the shot should've been disallowed. Specifically, that Allen traveled after receiving an outlet pass from Chris Bosh before the release. The leader of this faction has been Hall of Famer Rick Barry, who has given several interviews -- here's one -- over the last several months insisting it was a travel.

This week, the NBA referees are having their annual preseason conference at a hotel outside New York City. This is an intricate event. Plays from last season are broken down frame-by-frame, and they analyze positioning and obscure scenarios. Fans probably wouldn't believe the level of detail that goes into this job.

On Thursday, the league invited some members of the media to look at some of the work the officials have been doing and discuss minor rule changes and adjustments. One thing that came up was Allen’s huge shot. Was it or wasn't it a travel?

The answer from the best in the world was definitive: No.

Barry and others feel that Allen took three steps, one more than allotted, before shooting the ball. Looking at it frame-by-frame, indeed there is some gray area there. Under league rules, a player is permitted two steps after the “gather.”

The subjective issue is the gather. Allen was moving backward and it appears when his hand first touched Bosh’s pass, Allen had a foot on the ground. However, under the officials’ judgment, Allen did not have possession and had not completed the “gather” when that occurred.

Once Allen had corralled the ball, he did indeed take another one step back behind the 3-point line and then his last step to position himself to shoot before letting the ball go. Gather while moving back, then two steps, then the shot, officials say.

This opinion will probably not sway Barry and his supporters on the matter. Barry’s point has been that Allen gathered and then took three steps.

“There's no question about it, just watch the replay that they showed from the overhead camera,” Barry told SB Nation earlier this month. “He catches the ball with one foot down, steps back, brings the foot that he had down back to shoot the ball. That's traveling, you can't move your pivot foot without dribbling.”

The “gather” is arguable and will be forever. But the experts in the field, and three of them were working the game that night, say it was clean.

If anything, the officials made an error that hurt the Heat and favored the Spurs moments later. Gregg Popovich stormed on the court and yelled at officials after they stopped the game following Allen’s shot to check whether Allen’s feet were behind the 3-point line. In fact, Joey Crawford stepped in and grabbed the ball to make sure the Spurs could not even inbound.

Popovich, who was out of timeouts, was furious his team wasn't allowed to play on and try to rush up the court to use the 5.2 seconds left to attempt to win the game. Neither team had a timeout left.

After the review, Popovich was permitted to substitute Tim Duncan into the game -- he was infamously not in on the play because Popovich was concerned about covering the Heat’s shooters and Bosh ended up getting an offensive rebound -- when that should not have been allowed.

That is the only thing the officials regret from the moment.

Dwyane Wade and Kevin Durant got into a war of words on Twitter after Durant said he'd put James Harden in the NBA's top 10 players over Wade. Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless debate the feud on "First Take."

MIAMI -- One man has pulled off so many hoops coups and basketball miracles that he probably thinks he can fix anything or just about anyone.

Meanwhile, the other man has yet to step into a prosperous situation he hasn't managed to completely screw up.

Pat Riley, meet Michael Beasley.

Oh, that's right. You already know him.

Every instinct you had in 2008 told you to pass on Beasley with the No. 2 pick in the draft, to trade down in the lottery and perhaps partner a later pick with a veteran All-Star.

But instead, you were talked by your staff into selecting Beasley because of his immense promise after Derrick Rose went to Chicago. Then, with buyers' remorse essentially from the outset, you endured two years of problems and immaturity before banishing Beasley in the summer of 2010 to clear space that helped land your current championship squad.

Beasley, get reacquainted with Riley. He's the man you once joked was meaner and more strict than any principal you ever had “in the 20 schools I went to.” Only now, Riley just might be the best disciplinarian who can help salvage a young career derailed by legal troubles, marijuana abuse and inconsistent play every step of the way.

“Michael had the best years of his career with us,” Riley said in a statement issued by the team Wednesday regarding Beasley's first two seasons. “We feel that he can help us.”

For a team that talks so much about reducing the volume on the 'white noise,' combating negative storylines and negating senseless narratives, the Heat sure have a knack for commissioning a police escort into the heart of scrutiny.

But there's a lot of truth in Riley's statement. The only guarantee in this deal is that there's absolutely no way Beasley's addition can hurt the team at this point.

In reality, despite all of the past baggage, this reunion between the Heat and Beasley is low-risk and noncommittal as they come in the league. Under the surface, the one-year, non-guaranteed deal Beasley signed to return to the Heat on Wednesday is nothing more than a glorified invitation to join the team for training camp next month.

Riley could wake up tomorrow with second thoughts and release Beasley over breakfast if so inclined and end this awkward soap opera before the opening scenes unfold.

But with Riley, it's all about the upside -- especially if there is virtually no financial risk or threat to disrupt one of the league's more sound, professional and united locker rooms.

Four years ago, Beasley's childish antics were mostly harmless and brought a sense of levity at times to a franchise that can be almost too buttoned-up.

But that immaturity required almost around-the-clock monitoring by team officials. And Beasley's inability to respond to coaching and structure on the court frequently frustrated Dwyane Wade at a time when the star guard was practically begging for Riley to add veteran roster help in the down years that bridged the championship gap between Shaquille O'Neal's departure in 2007-08 and LeBron James' arrival in 2010.

Back then, Beasley was the catalyst of the Heat's self-proclaimed “Goof Troop” -- a unit of pranksters that included a then-youthful group of Mario Chalmers, Daequan Cook and Joel Anthony. Team officials grew so tired of their antics that at one point they asked the media to stop making references to the nickname in articles.

Now, if Beasley even makes it through camp and is on the roster for the Oct. 29 season opener against Chicago, he'll be far from the center of attention in a locker room dominated by the presence of Wade, James, Chris Bosh, Shane Battier, Ray Allen and Udonis Haslem.

Riley loves reclamation projects as much as he loves championship rings. He almost has one of each for every finger on both hands. And Beasley now joins former No. 1 pick Greg Oden, who signed with the Heat last month to launch his comeback from a three-year injury absence.

Not yet 25, yet already a career double-figure scorer in the league, there's plenty to like about Beasley if there's any way he can finally shake the repeated problems that ultimately led the Phoenix Suns to release him last week after a marijuana arrest despite owing him $8 million.

As one of the faces of your franchise selected second overall, Beasley's problems overshadowed his potential in Miami. He was a headache at best, an embarrassment at worst. Just a couple of months after drafting him, Riley had to answer questions during his Hall of Fame enshrinement weekend about Beasley and Chalmers being caught in a room with unpermitted guest amid the smell of marijuana during the league's rookie symposium.

The summer after his rookie season, Beasley admitted to violating the league's substance abuse program and spent time in a Houston treatment program run by John Lucas. During his second season, the Heat strongly persuaded Beasley to move into a condo within walking distance of the arena to limit potential problems and distractions.

Ultimately, as part of the Heat's pursuit of James in free agency, Riley traded Beasley to the Timberwolves without taking any salary back in return. Miami then filled Beasley's salary slot by signing Mike Miller, who was released by the Heat in July to reduce the luxury-tax bill.

The Heat couldn't grow with Beasley amid all the expectations that came with being the No. 2 pick in the draft. But now, as the No. 14 or No. 15 man on the roster facing perhaps his final opportunity to salvage his career, it's Beasley who now essentially has everything to lose.

Credit Riley for showing some loyalty.

But it means nothing unless Beasley finally responds with some maturity.

The Miami Heat signed 2012 second-round draft pick Justin Hamilton to a contract, Hamilton wrote on his verified Twitter account on Monday.

Hamilton is a 7-foot center from LSU drafted by the Heat with the 45th overall pick in 2012. The 23-year-old flashed shooting range while averaging 12.9 points and 7.9 rebounds a game for the Tigers in 2011-12. Hamilton played last season in both Latvia and Croatia, but he missed playing in summer league with the Heat because of a hamstring injury.

The Heat have only 13 guaranteed contracts currently on the their roster, with big man Jarvis Varnado and now Hamilton on non-fully guaranteed deals. The Heat re-signed center Chris Andersen and added center Greg Oden already this summer.

Dwyane Wade is starting an important offseason, one in which he must balance recovery from more knee issues and Pat Riley's challenge to drop weight and develop his game.

To do so, he has rehired famed trainer Tim Grover and will work with him for six weeks leading up to the Miami Heat's training camp for the 2013-14 season.

Wade has vowed that he will return a different player than he was at the end of last season, when he was limited by bone bruises and tendinitis in his knees. The 31-year-old guard averaged 21.2 points per game during the regular season, but just 15.9 PPG in the playoffs.

So to return to form, Wade has reached back into his past and out to Grover, whom he has worked with many times before but not for the past few summers.

"I don't train my clients to be good as new, I want them to be better than ever," Grover said about working with Wade again. "That's the goal for Dwyane."

Riley, the Heat president, said he is hoping for Wade to get down to 212 pounds, the weight he was when he came into the NBA, next season to reduce the strain on his knees and get some mobility back. Wade is listed at 220 pounds on the official roster but may have carried more than that over the past few seasons.

"He’s going to get down to 212 pounds next year and he’s going to come back and reinvent himself and everyone is going to say 'Wow,'" Riley said at the end of the NBA Finals on Dan Le Batard’s radio show.

Wade started working with Grover before the 2003 draft, and his impressive workouts with him helped Wade soar up draft board. Grover, who became well-known for his work with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, also helped Wade recover after missing the last 21 games of the 2007-08 season following OssaTron shockwave therapy on his knee. Wade then worked out with Grover intensely for two months and went on to star in the Beijing Olympics and then have the best season of his career, averaging 30.2 points per game.

When Wade struggled with knee issues during the 2012 Finals, he called in Grover for some emergency work. In his recently released book "Relentless," Grover wrote: “With the series tied 1-1, I flew to Miami. It was obvious Dwyane’s knee would require surgery after the season; we couldn't slap a quick solution on that. I told him I'd do what I could to make him feel stronger and more explosive for the next few days."

After several midnight rehab sessions with Grover, Wade scored 25 points in both Games 3 and 4 as the Heat took control against the Oklahoma City Thunder and ultimately won the 2012 title.

Now the duo is back together as Wade enters a crucial point in his career.

Wade has two years and $41 million left on his deal after the 2013-14 season. But Wade, like LeBron James and Chris Bosh, has an opt-out clause he can use to sign a longer-term deal that could carry him to the end of his career, virtually making this upcoming season a contract year.

And it's not just the knee injuries he and the Heat have to worry about. Wade blamed his postseason struggles on bone bruises, but the tendinitis is a bigger concern long term, especially for a player who has logged as many minutes. Wade will turn 32 in January, but he has already totaled almost 30,000 minutes of playing time between the regular season and the playoffs over the past 10 years, in addition to numerous summers playing for the national team.

Which is why, after taking the last month off following another round of OssaTron treatments, Wade is back working out with Grover in Miami as of last week.

"I don’t worry about it because I've dealt with so many different injuries since I was young and I've always bounced back," Wade said. "I've seen it work with my body before; I’m confident it will. My skills haven’t diminished. I’m not done yet."

The fun in the NBA schedule lies in the details. On the surface, there's not a whole lot of mystery to its construction. Every season, the Heat play each of their intradivisional rivals -- Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando and Washington -- four times apiece. They host home-and-homes with the 15 teams in the Western Conference. Miami sees six of 10 the remaining Eastern Conference teams four times each, and the other four teams three times each.

The schedule's intrigue comes in the contour of the course. Where are the sand traps? Where's a stretch during which the Heat might have a shot at launching another streak? Whom or where are the Heat playing when the lights are the brightest?

Balancing act
To account for the imbalance in the schedule, the Heat will play Boston and Milwaukee only once each away from Miami, and host Philadelphia and Cleveland for one game this season at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Fattening up early
The Heat open with a home-heavy stretch during which they can fatten up if so motivated. Nine of their first 14 games of the season are in Miami, with the only five road dates coming at Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte and Orlando. The Heat opened with nine of the first 14 at home in 2010-11, LeBron James' first season in Miami. The traveling circus sputtered out of the blocks, going 8-6 over its first 14 games. This season, the tougher matchups in Miami early come against Chicago in the opener and the Clippers in the front end of a Thursday TNT doubleheader. Apart from that, the asphalt is smooth well into December, with a 12-2 or 15-3 record not an unreasonable expectation.

Four-in-five
The Heat will endure three dreaded four-games-in-five-nights blocks, and the circumstances could be much worse. The first comes Jan. 17-21 when they travel to Philadelphia and Charlotte -- arguably the easiest back-to-back in the league this season -- followed by a road date at Atlanta before heading home to play Boston. The Heat don't arrive at their second four-in-five until March 18, long after they all but assured themselves the No. 1 seed this past season. The final four-in-five stretch is Games 77, 78, 79 and 80 (Brooklyn, at Memphis, Indiana, at Atlanta).

The season-ticket draft
Let's say you're going to attend 10 Heat games this season. Which 10?

• The opener, Oct. 29 versus Chicago. A buzzy season premiere -- Derrick Rose's first game back.
• If the Heat experience any regular-season drama, it's likely as not to come against Indiana, which has established a legitimate, hardy rivalry with the LeBron-era Heat. The Pacers host the Heat on Dec. 10 in Indianapolis, before the teams turn around and face off in Miami eight nights later.
• The NBA's Christmas is still one of the marquee calendar days in sports. For the fourth consecutive season, the Heat will play in the centerpiece game on the schedule, this year against the Lakers in Los Angeles.
• The appeal of a Finals rematch can vary. Sometimes, teams have been reconstructed or the matchup wasn't all that compelling to begin with. But Heat versus Spurs had fans calling for Game 8 which, after a long hiatus, is now scheduled for a national broadcast on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 26, in Miami. The teams meet in San Antonio on Thursday, March 6, as the first game of the TNT doubleheader.
• LeBron James and Kevin Durant are on the floor at the same time for roughly 75-80 minutes of basketball each season. This season, mark your calendars for Wednesday, Jan. 29, and Thursday, Feb. 20.
• LeBron James in Madison Square Garden is a bona fide event, and there are two seatings this upcoming season: Thursday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Feb. 1, the latter of which will tip at the rare 8:40 p.m. start time in New York. The later curtain lends the game a little more theatrical appeal. A coming trend in some markets?

The odyssey
The Heat are spared one this season, to their benefit. Their longest road trip in miles, games and hotel nights starts on Tuesday, Feb. 4, when they depart Miami for Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Feb. 5. From there, the Heat fly to Utah, Phoenix, Golden State, Dallas and Oklahoma City, coming home after playing the Thunder on TNT to close the trip on Feb. 20.

In the wake of Dwight Howard’s departure, the Los Angeles Lakers have been looking forward to 2014, when their options could be wide with a deep free-agent class and perhaps as much as $50 million in salary-cap room.

But there could be another huge player in free agency next summer, another destination team with a championship pedigree: The Miami Heat.

That may be hard to fathom at the moment because the Heat currently have a payroll of more than $80 million and a large luxury-tax bill that forced them to waive Mike Miller last week. But as of now, there is a possibility that every player on the Heat roster could be a free agent next summer.

The Heat are an example of the difference between a team with a full cap as opposed to a team that is capped out.

That’s why it would be unwise to disregard the Heat’s options when it comes to looking at next summer. There’s a chance the Heat will have as much cap space as anyone to retrofit their team around the most-prized potential free agent, LeBron James, if he opts out of his contract as expected.

“When 2014 hits, we'll be ready to deal with that,” Heat president Pat Riley said after the season. “We're just going to keep everything very fluid ... we'll be prepared for anything, as we were in 2010."

The two-time champs know they will have 13 players back from this season’s title team for the 2013-14 season and Riley has made it clear he believes the status quo is the way to go as they attempt to establish a dynasty. But a year from now, the shape of the Heat roster is a bit of a mystery. Depending on the health of their core players and their competition for James, that could turn out to be a good thing. The roster is aging, but because of the flexibility of the contracts on the books, it’s not necessarily a roster they are locked into.

First, James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade all have opt-out clauses in their contracts. That represents a $61 million portion of the team’s salary cap for 2014-15. It is hard to predict what each player will do because much will depend on health, the success of the team and other variables. But all three very well could opt out to re-do their contracts to assure more guaranteed years.

All three are earning less than the maximum salary and it is possible they could seek raises. However, all three have already shown a willingness to work with the front office to structure their deals in a way that will allow more flexibility.

In addition, Mario Chalmers, Shane Battier, Ray Allen, James Jones and Rashard Lewis all are headed into the final year of their contracts. Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Chris Andersen all have player options. Norris Cole has a team option.

Even if Haslem, Anthony and Andersen bypass free agency next summer and the Heat, as expected, pick up Cole’s option, the team still could have in the neighborhood of $50 million to play with depending on what the Big Three decide.

The Miller amnesty release last week was unpopular with some players and many of the Heat’s fans. But it did more than save luxury-tax money, it also cleared extra cap space for the future. No matter how the Heat ultimately proceed, they will have an opportunity to revamp the roster following this season. If James decides to stay, he can be a drawing card for younger free agents as the Heat may look to replace some of their aging players.

Over the past three years, players have repeatedly taken less money to play with the Heat, often because Riley has been persuasive in contract talks. The team also has assistant general manager Andy Elisburg, who has proven to be a shrewd salary-cap manager during his long tenure with the team that has allowed the Heat to pull off some maneuvers that have shocked the league several times.

While several competitors will plot to poach James and perhaps Bosh, the Heat may be able to convince their stars to restructure their contracts in a way that would allow them to add another big name. Much of that may depend on Wade, who already showed a willingness to take the biggest pay cut to make room for teammates in 2010.

Bottom line, the Heat could end up being one of the most interesting teams in next summer’s already fascinating free-agent game. Not just as a protector of their championship roster but perhaps as a hunter for a player or two who could help them stay on top for the back end of James’ prime years.

Riley has dismissed rivals' transparent attempts to chase James or get into an arms race with the Heat because he’s confident in how the franchise has positioned itself in the short- and long-term.

"What one other team does, I think it doesn't have any bearing on what we're thinking about," Riley said. "We're a three-time finalist. We won back-to-back championships. We've got our entire core back, signed, opted-in, and we're tickled to death with that."

MIAMI – Mike Miller was always a luxury.

That was the case when he arrived as a high-priced, sharp-shooting accessory in the summer of 2010, when the Miami Heat also brought together LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh as blockbuster acquisitions.

And it certainly was the case as Miami celebrated its second consecutive NBA championship last month after overcoming the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals.

So it was absolutely no surprise that it was the threat of a massive luxury tax payment that ultimately led Heat owner Micky Arison and team president Pat Riley to remove the biggest luxury from their roster before the bill came due.

In these harsh economic times under this increasingly punitive collective bargaining agreement, sacrifices have to be made. From a talent perspective, the Heat still sport the best designer three-piece suit in the league. They're just cutting back on the shiny cufflinks or the pocket square.

This had to be done. Miller was the fourth-highest paid player on the Heat's roster behind James, Bosh and Wade. But there were many months during Miller's three years in Miami when he wasn't even the eighth man in the rotation.

Ultimately, this was inevitable.

By using the league's one-time amnesty provision to release Miller on Tuesday, the Heat potentially slice their luxury-tax bill in half for next season, reducing it from about $33 million to around $16 million by shedding the $6.2 million Miller is owed for the 2013-14 season.

The only aspect of this ordeal that didn't make sense was the fact that Riley, on two occasions in the past three weeks, went out of his way to strongly suggest the Heat had no plans to use the amnesty to reduce their burden.

As recently as Friday in a conference call with a group of hand-picked local reporters, Riley at one point flat-out declared: “We're not using the amnesty.”

But in announcing Tuesday he had, in fact, used the amnesty, Riley said in a statement released by the team that he tried to trade Miller but eventually “made a very difficult decision to use our Amnesty provision on Mike.”

I don't get the sense that this was Riley being two-faced, selling one message to the media one moment but working behind the scenes to do something exactly the opposite. Team executives do that kind of thing all the time in the name of protecting potential trades and player transactions.

It's happened before.

The last time I recall Riley seeming this intent on something this foregone was when he stood in the lobby of the team's Minneapolis hotel back in 2008 and vehemently said the Heat still valued a declining and disinterested Shaquille O'Neal, along with the 14 points and eight rebounds he provided at the time, and wouldn't trade him.

Where was Shaq a week or so later? On his way to Phoenix, torching everyone from Miami's longtime trainer to the seldom-used point guard at the end of the bench.

But the Miller departure feels different. Although Miller wasn't pleased about never settling into a prominent rotation role, he's moving on with two championship rings, his remaining salary of nearly $13 million over the next two seasons and his choice of where he will play next.

In addition, the homepage on the Heat's website Tuesday afternoon thanked Miller for his service in Miami, which was highlighted by his 23-point effort to help the Heat clinch Game 5 of the 2012 Finals against Oklahoma City.

There's not a game -- nor game show -- on the planet that offers those kind of parting gifts. Once Miller clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any number of contenders who are just a shooter away from boosting title aspirations next season. Three playoff teams that quickly come to mind as perfect landing spots are the Pacers, Grizzlies and Rockets.

Much like Miller, the Heat will move on to a number of options that are far less expensive but potentially just as productive -- if not more -- than Miller was in Miami.

Miller never really had a chance to live up to the hype and expectations that accompanied his signing with the Heat. He was sidelined by thumb, back and hernia injuries his first year. He was beat out by Shane Battier for the sixth-man spot during his second season in Miami.

And last season, despite 17 starts and another prominent moment midway through the Finals, a relatively healthy Miller couldn't find any consistency with his role after Ray Allen arrived to further bolster the perimeter rotation.

Miller spent the previous two offseasons worrying if Miami would release him using the provision. Amnesty almost seemed like it was part of Miller's name.

Now that they've officially parted ways, consider this a win-win for both Miller and Miami.

The player can search for more of a prominent role.

The team can accessorize under a deeply discounted burden.

The Miami Heat have a $17 million decision to make in the next week.

That's how much it will cost in luxury tax alone to keep Mike Miller on their roster this coming season. The Heat have until July 16 to decide whether they should release him via the amnesty provision to help weather an enormous tax bill that is coming due.

At the end of the season, Heat president Pat Riley made it clear he wanted to keep the 33-year-old Miller. He said he would waive him only if he got a “mandate” from owner Micky Arison and CEO Nick Arison.

The reason Miller is the leading candidate to be waived is because he’s due $12.8 million over the next two seasons and has a limited role on a team that is deep at his position.

Miller has been valuable in the playoffs the past two seasons. He was the Game 5 hero when the Heat won the title in 2012, and this year his insertion into the starting lineup helped the Heat turn the tide after they’d fallen behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals. It makes sense that Riley wants him on the roster. But at these prices, it is an expensive call for team ownership.

Now that the Heat have re-signed Chris Andersen to a team-friendly deal that will pay him $1.67 million this coming season, their luxury-tax situation has come into focus. The league is instituting an “enhanced” tax starting this season, and the Heat could be hit hard.

With the help of ESPN salary guru Nick Silva, we know the Heat are currently looking at a payroll of more than $88 million and are $16.4 million over the luxury-tax threshold. Last season, that would’ve cost them $16.4 million in tax. In 2013-14, that will cost them nearly $33.6 million in tax.

In the history of the luxury tax, the Arison family has paid a total of $36 million and is facing nearly that amount for one season. Since signing LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Miller in 2010, the Heat have paid a total of $19 million in tax, including $13.3 million this past championship season.

If the Heat use the amnesty on Miller, it will save them nearly $17 million in taxes and knock their projected bill down to roughly $16.9 million.

As you can see, the “enhanced” tax is very real. It's one of the reasons Arison was one of the five owners who voted against the collective bargaining agreement when it included these new taxes in 2011.

Miller would still get the money he's owed from the Heat over the next two seasons even if he’s waived. In taxes, however, the Heat could save about triple that amount by not having him count toward their books for tax purposes.

Miller is popular with fans, popular in the front office, and popular in the locker room. But the Heat are facing a significant business decision regarding his future.

For Pat Riley, most of the work is already done.

While the rest of the NBA jumps into the free-agency frenzy that began at midnight Sunday night, the Heat figure to spend most of their time watching from afar. With Ray Allen opting in on Friday, the Heat already have 13 spots on their roster filled for next season (if you include Jarvis Varnado’s nonguaranteed contract).

To recap: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are locked in for 2013-14 (did you hear they could be free agents next summer?); the Heat employ a quintet of veteran sharpshooters in Allen, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Rashard Lewis and James Jones; Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Varnado will bolster the front line; Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole will hold down point guard duties.

That’s 13 there. Only two spots remain to fill the 15-man roster next season.

What will they do with those two spots? Here are three things to know about the Heat in free agency.

1. The Bird is the word.

Riley has made it clear that Chris Andersen, who is an unrestricted free agent, is the Heat’s No. 1 priority in free agency. Andersen finds himself in a unique position this offseason because he’s still collecting a $4.8 million check from the Denver Nuggets next season. Considering he’ll be paid handsomely no matter what next season, the 34-year-old will probably prefer familiarity, winning potential and team fit more than your typical free agent.

So what can the Heat offer Andersen? As taxpayers, the Heat can only offer two carrots: a raise on his veteran minimum contract worth a total of $1.7 million or the taxpayer’s midlevel exception (commonly known as the “mini” midlevel) which can be up to three years starting at $3.2 million per year.

The Heat went from good to historically good when Andersen came on board, and his camp knows that. The likely scenario is that Andersen pushes for the mini midlevel seeing as though the Heat went 54-8 in games that Andersen played, thanks to his 17.4 player efficiency rating off the bench and a ridiculous 81 percent field goal percentage in the postseason. Expect the Heat to bring him in on a multiyear deal even though he will turn 35 next week. Other teams will be interested, but money might not matter; Andersen could earn $8 million next season if he signs in Miami.

2. Mike Miller has a $23.1 million price tag next season.

Miller is a prime candidate to be waived under the amnesty provision for three reasons:

• He is the highest-paid player outside Miami’s star trio.

• The Heat have a fleet of sharpshooters to replace him.

• At 33, Miller has been as durable as a wet paper towel.

Still, Riley has insisted that he won’t use the amnesty provision on Miller this offseason because the Heat “don’t like change.”

That’s a big commitment from Riley because -- warning: collective bargaining agreement math ahead -- according to our own CBA expert Larry Coon, the Heat would save an estimated $16.9 million in tax penalties next season if they use the amnesty provision to release Miller. (That’s using the safe assumption that the tax line remains at the latest projected figure of $71.6 million, Andersen is brought back at the mini midlevel and the Heat sign someone to replace Miller in addition to another free agent at the veteran minimum.)

A sum of $16.9 million is a lot of cash, even for billionaire Heat owner Micky Arison. To clarify, if the Heat were to use the amnesty clause on Miller, they would still have to pay his remaining contract worth $6.2 million, but his contract wouldn't count against the cap or be subject to tax penalties.

Combining his $6.2 million salary and the $16.9 million tax hit, Miller would, in essence, cost the Heat $23.1 million next season to keep him around.

And that’s before we discuss the “repeater” tax sledgehammer that comes in 2014-15. The accelerated tax rate could potentially turn Miller’s $6.6 million salary for 2014-15 into more than $25 million of additional tax dollars if the Heat keep him on the books and maintain a similar payroll. Cut bait now and the Heat could save more than $40 million over the next two seasons in tax penalties.

The Heat could also use the amnesty provision on Anthony, the seldom-used backup center who is due $3.8 million next season. But the Heat aren't as deep in the frontcourt and the potential savings may not be worth the liability underneath, especially with Haslem needing offseason knee surgery. The Heat would hate to cut either player, but sentiment has no place in this new CBA. The two spots could turn into three.

3. Keep an eye on Greg Oden, Elton Brand, Lamar Odom and Chauncey Billups.

Assuming the Heat bring back Andersen and keep Varnado around, that would leave one roster spot for the Heat to sign a free agent. The Heat will likely be on the lookout for another Rashard Lewis type -- a veteran at the end of his career looking to play for a championship contender at a steep discount.

Who are those players? Money talks for most players, but like Lewis, there are plenty of over-the-hill free agents who have secured more than $100 million in their careers and could be looking for more than just a big payday (like, say, a chance to be part of a three-peat). Some names that could fit the bill: Brand, Odom and Billups.

Of course, the Heat would be thrilled to land any of the three with a veteran minimum contract, but they remain long shots because, unlike Lewis, neither of them will be receiving an amnesty paycheck to supplement their Heat income.

Even if the Heat don’t strike out on those veterans, they’d be wise to turn their attention to Oden, who is an unrestricted free agent. Oden has been on the Heat’s radar ever since James, Wade and Bosh joined forces. Bringing in Oden along with another veteran would likely mean Varnado’s departure, but that’s a small price to pay. Furthermore, the Heat could also bring in their 2013 draft pick, James Ennis, to fill out the roster, though he might be better suited in the D-League or overseas.

Other free-agent names to watch: Samuel Dalembert, Lou Amundson, Nazr Mohammed, Chris Wilcox and Jason Collins.

Heading into Thursday’s draft, Heat president Pat Riley issued a mandate to his scouting staff: Select the best 61st pick possible.

With 60 draft slots and none of them belonging to the Heat, Riley initially believed the Heat’s best course of action was to pluck young talent from free agency after the draft.

But that all changed when a prospect named James Ennis was still on the board late in the second round. The Heat couldn’t pass up the opportunity to snag the Long Beach State product. So they bought the 50th pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for a future second-round pick.

Who is Ennis?

He’s a 6-7 swingman, who was the Big West Conference Player of the Year after a senior season in which he averaged 16.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks, while posting a 25.3 player efficiency rating (third-best in the conference). Ennis is not young at age 22, but he’s actually still raw as a basketball product; his senior season was only his second year playing Division I basketball.

Why did the Heat feel the need to jump in the draft to get him?

Scan through the film and scouting reports, and you’ll see there’s a lot to like. Our own draft expert Chad Ford called him “one of the sleepers of the draft.” A key point for the Heat is that he showed NBA range with his jump shot, nailing 35.8 percent of his 3-pointers last season while attempting 4.8 per game. Plus, he is athletic and can defend multiple positions. That's worth taking a flier.

Expect Ennis to join the Heat’s summer league team in Las Vegas and vie for a training camp roster spot next season. However, there’s no reason to believe that he will crack the Heat's rotation.

If anything, Ennis is a slightly stronger and taller version of Terrel Harris, who the Heat waived after seven games this past season. Like Harris, Ennis figures to struggle puncturing a wing rotation that features Shane Battier, Mike Miller, James Jones and those guys LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Considering how stacked the Heat are on the wing, it would likely take an injury bug to open the door for Ennis next season.

But if we’re being honest, the Heat didn’t have 2013-14 on their minds when they drafted Ennis. All signs point to Battier retiring after next season, and Miller could be an amnesty candidate next summer when he’s due $6.6 million in 2014-15. This was a long play and a cheap way -- reminder: second-round picks are not guaranteed -- for the Heat to have Battier/Miller insurance, reel in a player that they liked and, perhaps, stash him overseas like they did with recent draftees Jarvis Varnado and Justin Hamilton.

It’s possible that the Heat heard whispers that Ennis appealed to another team or would’ve picked elsewhere as a free agent where he might see more playing time. But Ennis is under the Heat’s control now, and the Heat are high on him.

The Heat were once high on Harris as well, and for a veteran team trying to win its third title in a row, there’s not much room for guys like Ennis or Harris. But getting a guy who could be a lesser version of Draymond Green is not a bad move. And if it doesn’t work out, something tells me the Heat won’t sweat not selecting the best 50th pick possible. They have a pretty solid team already.

MIAMI -- The Miami Heat squad we just witnessed win the NBA title may have been the best shooting team ever.

Of course, it seems a bit opportunistic to come out and say that now, after 12 Heat 3-pointers splashed through the AmericanAirlines Arena nets during the title-clinching 95-88 Game 7 victory. But we shouldn't be surprised that they were able to pour it on against the San Antonio Spurs in the clincher.

Why?

Because the Heat were the most efficient shooting team in NBA history during the regular season. And if this Heat squad leaves a mark in the history books, that should be its legacy above all else.

Sure, we could point to their historic 27-game win streak or the fact that they gave the decorated Spurs team its first-ever exit in the Finals without a title.

But the shooting?

We've never seen anything quite like it.

Let’s put this in perspective. The Heat shot 49.6 percent from the floor, which on its own -- making just about half of their shots their entire season -- seems like an achievement in of itself. But using raw field goal percentage actually understates their historic shooting abilities this season all because of their reliance on the 3-ball.

To illustrate how remarkable the Heat were as a squad, we can call upon effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the simple fact that three points is more than two. The Heat shot 49.6 percent from the floor, but they effectively shot 55.2 percent if we give 3-pointers their proper due.

And that 55.2 percent effective field goal percentage? It’s the top rate in NBA history.

But the most fascinating thing about that record is how they got there: by stealing a page out of the San Antonio Spurs’ book. Namely, by going all-in on corner 3s.

After winning the 2012 title over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Heat weren't satisfied with their trove of 3-point shooters, although they already employed Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Mario Chalmers and even the 3-point shooting champion from the All-Star break, James Jones. While most called for the Heat to beef up their thin front line, Heat president Pat Riley instead targeted Ray Allen in free agency and pried him away from the Boston Celtics.

The reason? Allen’s masterful shooting, especially from the corners, could vault the Heat’s offense from just good to historically great.

Years ago, the Spurs’ brass realized that corner 3s not only stretched the opposing defense thin, but also were the most fruitful shot in the game because a design glitch meant that corner 3s were closer than any 3-pointer on the floor. For the past decade, the Spurs have anchored a 3-point specialist in the corner at all times and watched their star trios thrive with the vast space that corner-3 shooters provided.

No, it’s not a coincidence that his past offseason, the Heat decided to double down on the Spurs’ specialty and pluck arguably the NBA’s greatest corner-3 marksman in history in Allen.

And when we think of one singular moment in the 2013 Finals, what will it be? That’s right, a corner 3. That Allen dagger from the right pocket in Game 6 with 5.2 seconds left.

It rescued LeBron James, who had just turned the ball over twice, from an avalanche of pent-up criticism from around the world. Just after Allen and his teammates watched the yellow rope surround the court for the Spurs' potential title, the corner 3 breathed life back into a Heat team that had just about flat-lined.

For the series, the Heat gave the Spurs a taste of their own medicine, making an astounding 29 3-pointers from the corner, more than twice the total of the Spurs (14). It’s the most corner-3 makes in the Finals on record, beating out the -- you guessed it -- San Antonio Spurs in the 2004-05 season (24 makes). All in all, the Heat shot 51.8 percent from there, compared to the Spurs’ 37.5 percent conversion rate. How 'bout them apples?

Of course, the Heat’s torrid shooting campaign in 2012-13 extended beyond the corners. James shot a career-high 56.5 percent from the floor while shooting above 40 percent from downtown for the first time in his career. Both Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh set career highs in field goal percentage as well.

“We wanted to be a dual threat,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of his season after Game 7. “The first thing we wanted to do was attack and establish that type of game for our best players. But the pace would create a symbiotic relationship, and it worked great all year.”

And then you have Chris Andersen, whom the Heat picked up off the scrap heap in January. Of the 3,851 instances that a player has shot at least 50 field goal attempts in the playoffs, no one made a higher percentage of them than Andersen. His 80.7 percent conversion crushed the all-time record of 69.6 percent set by Antoine Carr in 1986-87.

But the most memorable shooting performance of Game 7 belongs to Battier, who made six 3-pointers on the night after being benched for his previous Game 7 against the Indiana Pacers due to a spell of cold shooting.

“I believe in the basketball gods,” Battier said at the postgame podium. “I felt they owed me big-time.”

The Heat beat the Spurs, but they also beat them at their own game. In Game 7, the Heat made four of their eight corner 3s, two coming from Finals MVP James and the other from Battier.

The Spurs drew up the blueprint of spreading the floor for a star trio and attacking from the corners. But as we saw in Game 7, and all season long, it was the Heat who perfected it.