When Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler signed a five-year, $24.5 million contract this week, no one was more elated than Milwaukee Bucks forward Anthony Mason.

Mason, a longtime friend of Fiedler who considers him a ''brother,'' said Friday the lucrative contract was a reward for Fiedler's patience.

''I'm definitely happy for him,'' said Mason, an All-Star with the Heat last year. ``He went through what I went through. We went overseas, too. For him to persevere and keep his faith and keep strong and go into a situation where he was in the shadow of [ Dan] Marino, there was a lot of pressure on him. With all the nonsense he had to go through, for him to perform well, you have to be happy for him.''

Mason and Fiedler grew up in the New York area, where Fiedler's father, Ken, was Mason's high school basketball coach. Ken Fiedler became a father figure to Mason, who remains close with the Fiedler family.

Mason and Jay Fiedler might have a slightly more strained relationship now, though. They are making almost identical salaries -- about $5 million a year.

Asked who would pick up the tab at dinner, Mason said, ``Oh, he's going to be paying, too.''

CARTER ON HOLD

Heat coach Pat Riley decided against activating point guard Anthony Carter on Friday, and it is becoming obvious Riley is hesitant to disrupt the team's chemistry by inserting Carter.

''I'm still undecided,'' Riley said. ``I'm not trying to hold him back for any other reason other than I like the way our team is playing and I want him to have more time. I don't want to experiment by throwing him in there after [missing] five or six weeks just because he has had two or three practices and he says he feels good. That's where I am with it. I don't think he feels that way, but that's where I am.''

Carter, on the injured list since Dec. 21 because of an abdominal injury, said Friday that getting back into shape has been his biggest obstacle, but he feels ready to return.

CASSELL SITS AGAIN

Bucks point guard Sam Cassell missed his second consecutive game with a sprained left big toe and is day to day. Rafer Alston started in his place.