Dwyane Wade sat out 28 games last season for the Miami Heat as part of a planned maintenance program to ease fatigue on his troublesome knees.

But Wade doesn't plan on following that same type of schedule again this season.

"Last year, we tried something and I wasn't comfortable with it, either," said Wade.

The Heat reached the Finals, but lost in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.

"It almost worked. It was this close, three games from it working," Wade said. "But it's a different year."

Miami will need Wade to play a bigger role throughout the season with LeBron James no longer on the club.

"My goal is to be available every day for my teammates and see what that equals out to," said Wade. "Hopefully it equals out to success for myself, individually, but for our team."