Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald reports that Alonzo Mourning feels it is only a matter of time before he steps back on the court.

''A lot of it is going to be based on how I feel, but eventually I think the doctors will possibly give me the thumbs up and pretty much put it in my hands when I'm ready to step back out there,'' Mourning said. ``They're very optimistic. I am, as well.

``I'm very confident that I will be able to step back on the court again. It's only a matter of time.''

The question is: Where will he play?

Mourning is free to sign with any team, but his first choice would be Miami.

''My heart is in Miami,'' he said. ``I have a huge amount of respect for [coach] Pat Riley and [owner] Micky Arison, and I appreciate everything they've done for me and I hope they appreciate everything I've done for them.

``But they knew that this day was going to come. Unfortunately, under the circumstances of my health, it's come at a different light, but at the same time I think I'm a smart enough man to deal with it and just move on.''

Harvey Fialkov of the Sun-Sentinel reports that the Miami Heat is likely to overhaul a roster that featured many first and second year players and finished with just 25 wins.

"This is one of the best groups as far as character, working and trying to get better, and having a sense of hope -- all things you want to see in young players,'' coach Pat Riley said. "Injuries to Eddie Jones really hurt their development because you don't have a really good go-to guy with them, so a lot of times their performances were dismissed when you lose."

One of the few players who got a lot better for Miami was Caron Butler.

"The contact and travel was tough. It was like playing three college seasons in one year," Butler said. "You have to adjust. I knew what I was capable of doing. That's why Coach Riley brought me in here. I set goals and I'm going to attain them."

While Pat Riley did see some improvement, he knows that some of his young players will have to improve if they want to make the team next season.

"Mike and Malik got their first tastes of rotation," Riley said. "I think they have to really do some self-evaluation as to what it's going to take for them to take it to the next level."

"Riley gave me the opportunity for on-court experience," said Rasual Butler, a second-round pick who averaged more than 10 points as a starter but only shot 36 percent. "That should propel me for the rest of my career.

"I'm going to work my behind off this summer and come back a completely different player. ... I'm really hungry to get better."

Israel Gutierrez of the Miami Herald reports that the Miami Heat will likely pursue a trade of guard Eddie Jones.

Jones realizes the reality that he could be dealt, but prefers to not to get too caught up in all the chatter.

"That's one position I don't want to touch," he said. "If something happens, I'll deal with it. I enjoy being here, don't get me wrong. I like all the guys on this team, but the fact remains we're not winning.

"I'm sure they are going to do some things to make [sure] we start winning and at least make it to the playoffs."

One thing that could seal Jones' fate could be how the Heat fare on draft day. Should Pat Riley land LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony, there will be even more pressure for Jones to be moved to create more minutes for the incoming rookie.

Possible deals Miami would persue could be the same ones that were talked about before the trading deadline. Miami had conversations with Houston about Cuttino Mobley and Maurice Taylor and with Minnesota about injured guard Terrell Brandon. The main talks, though, came with the Chicago Bulls involving Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer.

If Jones gets moved, he would prefer to be in a winning situation.

"I just want to be on a team that's winning," he said.

Before the Wizards game against the Miami Heat, Michael Jordan had his jersey retired at American Airlines Arena reports the Associated Press.

"In honor of your greatness and for all you've done for the game of basketball ? and not just the NBA, but for all the fans around the world ? we want to honour you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters," Riley said at midcourt. "No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best."

Riley said the number 23, which was the first number ever retired in Heat history, would not be worn by anyone ever again.

The jersey that hung in the rafters was half a Bulls uniform and half a Wizards uniform.

The Wizards won the game 91-87.

Art Thompson III of the Orange County Register reports: Clippers center Michael Olowokandi is officially done for the season but prehaps not as a Clipper.

The final conclusion on his season ending came when yesterday when Trainer Jasen Powell told Coach Dennis Johnson on that Olowokandi would be out at least four more weeks. With less than two left in the regular season, it dashed any hopes of him returning this season from his left knee injury.

Olowokandi has been out since Feb.3 and has missed 29 games because of the injury.

"I'm a little disappointed because it would have been nice to come back and play with E.B. (Elton Brand), Lamar (Odom) and the guys," Olowokandi said. "But I'm extremely happy that the doctor was finally able to pinpoint the problem I was having. My primary focus now is getting my knee 100 percent healthy."

However, Olowokandi did not rule out returning to the Clippers next season.

"The only way I'll leave Los Angeles is if the Clippers clearly told me that while they enjoyed my services, that they were not interested in bringing me back," he said. "For me, the door is always going to be open. But if they don't want me back, then all I can say is that it's been great, and it would be time for me to pursue opportunities elsewhere."

Olowokandi and his agent Bill Duffy also downplayed the notion that he is a lock to go to Miami.

"It has nothing whatsoever to do with signing with Miami,'' Duffy said. "He likes it down there. He has a home in London and he'll probably keep his home in L.A., too."

Olowokandi said, "Anybody trying to read into something like me buying a home in Miami is just looking for a story. I've been looking to buy a home down there for three years now. I know what it might look like, but anyone saying that I'm headed to the Miami Heat just because I bought a house, that's pure speculation on their part.''

Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports: Miami Heat rookie Caron Butler has accomplished something only the likes of David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Ralph Sampson, Terry Cummings, and Tim Duncan have: Win the NBA's Rookie of the Month award 4 or more times.

Butler was awarded the award yesterday after averaging 21.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.88 steals in the month of March. Butler has scored in double figures in 23 consecutive games- the most since Alonzo Mourning's 28 game streak in 2001-2002.

"He's had a Rookie of the Year season, forget about the month," Heat coach Pat Riley said Tuesday after practice. "He's actually picked it up. You see what he can do. If we went to him all the time, he'd be a 20-point-a-game guy."

Butler is making a case for the Rookie of the Year award, but is said to be too far behind Yao Ming and Amare Stoudamire to contend for the award.

Ming has won Rookie of the Month twice while Stoudamire has won the award once.