The Miami Heat announced today that guard Jason Williams underwent successful surgery to repair a partial tear of his right patella tendon which caused him to miss 18 games this past season.

The 60-minute surgery was performed by HEAT team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick on July 21 at Baptist Doctors? Hospital.

After being examined today by Dr. Selesnick,  Williams has been cleared to begin the rehabilitation process. There is currently no timetable for his return to the court.

A league source has confirmed to the L.A. Times that the Lakers and Heat will meet again on Christmas Day for the third consecutive year.

The Heat have won three out of the four games against the Lakers since Shaquille O'Neal was traded to Miami.

As the Phoenix Suns continue to search for a backup point guard to play behind MVP Steve Nash, their latest quest may lead them to Minnesota free agent Marcus Banks.

It would take a large chunk of Phoenix's $5.2 million midlevel exception to close the deal but probably would not be far removed from the $3.7 million salary that John Salmons turned down Thursday, according to the Arizona Republic.

Banks attracted initial interest from the Los Angeles Lakers until they signed Vladimir Radmanovic, Minnesota until it signed Mike James and Atlanta until it signed Speedy Claxton. Cleveland's interest also has cooled, leaving the Suns to duel with Houston and Miami. The Rockets also have all of their midlevel exception remaining.

James Posey was at Alonzo Mourning's charity basketball game on Sunday and spoke to the media for the first time since exercising his $6.4 million option for the 2006-2007 season.

Posey said his agent, Mark Bartelstein, has not yet begun trying to negotiate a long-term extension.

On Sunday night, Gary Payton said that he wants to re-sign with the Miami Heat. Payton commented on his desire while at a charity basketball game hosted by Alonzo Mourning.

"Yes, yes," said Payton. "I'm going to try to come back with everybody else and do it again."

Alonzo Mourning  waited 13 years to win his first NBA championship. Now, the Miami Heat center wants to see what defending a title is like.

Mourning said late Saturday that he intends to return to the Heat next season.

There are still some contract details to be worked out. Mourning has had interest in recent days from several other teams, including the Spurs, but he rebuked that offer and said if he was going to play anywhere, it would be in Miami.

Carmelo Anthony committed to staying in his town a little longer than LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Anthony signed a five-year deal worth an estimated $80 million Wednesday at the Pepsi Center. The deal Anthony signed is longer by two years than those agreed to by James and Wade.

Rather than choose the five-year extensions they were eligible for that would kick in starting with the 2007-08 season, James and Wade went for three-year deals with an option for a fourth - and the chance to become free agents sooner and potentially make even more money.

"It was a no-brainer for me," Anthony said. "When all the rumors were out there saying I was signing this type of deal or that type of deal, my family called me and said, 'Look, are you crazy?'" Growing up we don't have (much)."

The Miami Heat announced the extension of Dwyane Wade's contract.  The team did not disclose the details of the contract, but it is widely speculated that he signed a three-year deal with a player option for the fourth year.

Dwyane Wade, who agreed to a max extension with Miami last week, is now going to sign a shorter deal, similar to the contract that LeBron James intends to sign, Ric Bucher is reporting.

The deal will be for three-seasons with a player option for the fourth.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, the San Antonio Spurs are interested in signing Alonzo Mourning to a free agent contract.  Mourning is still expected to re-sign with the Heat.

"A number of teams have contacted us,'' Wechsler said. ''I've listened to all the offers.'' When asked whether Mourning would consider playing for another team, Wechsler said, ``I haven't asked him that question.''