Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: The Heat's pocketbook, nearly shut by the impending luxury tax, could be opened slightly this summer if a starting-caliber player wants to sign with Miami, coach Pat Riley said Wednesday.

Riley made several revelations in his first interview since April 19:

? He said his mind-set is to coach at least the remaining three years of his contract, although ``I'm not going to print anything in stone. . . . The whimsical, wispy feelings about the end being near have long since passed.''

? He said he prefers to keep most of his nucleus intact but wouldn't rule out trading anybody if there's a chance to acquire a top player or clear future salary-cap space.

? He said he prefers to add a U.S.-based scorer with the 10th pick in the draft and already has turned down offers of veterans for the Heat's highest draft choice in seven years.

? Although the Heat might only be able to make $1 million offers, Riley said he's ''optimistic'' free agents Rod Strickland and Jim Jackson want to return.

He said the Heat likely will pick up the partially guaranteed options on Malik Allen, Ernest Brown, Sean Marks and Mike James.

Riley has spoken to owner Micky Arison about possibly spending the team's $4.6 million exception, even though that would require paying a luxury tax.

''If you can get a productive starter . . . I do believe Micky will go in that direction,'' Riley said. ``There are a couple of guys out there I really like.''

Riley denied a New York Post report that Mourning has asked for a contract extension. The Heat's desire for cap space in 2003 would make an extension unlikely.

Riley confirmed interest in drafting a scorer with perimeter skills.

''We need a versatile, multidimensional player who can help Eddie Jones,'' he said. ``I think we're going to be able to get one at [No. 10].''

Riley said he likes junior college small forward Qyntel Woods and Indiana forward Jared Jeffries.

If the Heat can't find an ideal perimeter player, Riley suggested Miami would add depth to its power rotation and mentioned Stanford center Curtis Borchardt and Tennessee power forward Marcus Haislip as options.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: Heat forward Brian Grant will be unable to play basketball for six to eight weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Grant missed 54 games in the 1996-97 season to repair an incomplete tear of the rotator cuff in the same shoulder.

The season ended prematurely once again in 2002 for the Orlando Magic, and their most glaring weakness once again was their power game.  The Charlotte Hornets exposed and abused them in the opening round, slaughtering them by an average of 50-39.5 on the boards, including 15.8-9 on the offensive glass.  And unless something is done this off season things are bound to get worse, old war horses Horace Grant and Patrick Ewing both leaning towards retirement.

If these two do in fact hang up their sneakers as expected the Magic will be left with only Steven Hunter, Andrew DeClercq and Don Reid in their power rotation, which will barely scare a CBA team.  This means that the Magic will have to look to a weak free agent class or to a trade to help upgrade the position, the latter option being their best bet.

"We need to fortify that area -- at power forward, center -- to get the job done, to compete with teams like Charlotte," Magic President John Gabriel said. "I think a lot of things became evident in that series."

"They were just too physical for us and that bothers me," added coach Doc Rivers in response to the Hornets? dominance.

Enter the Miami Heat and forward Brian Grant.  The Miami Heat, surprising all by missing the playoffs this season, is looking to offload some of their hefty contracts to make a run at Tim Duncan next year.  Grant, signed for the max by the Heat in a sign and trade with Portland only two seasons ago, could be the perfect power player to complement Tracy McGrady on the Magic.

As Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes what would the Magic have to give up to acquire a player like Grant?  Although the salaries are obviously similar Grant Hill cannot be considered with no assurances the former All-Star forward ever will be able to recover from the ankle problems that have had him sidelined for almost two entire seasons.  The Magic?s most tradeable commodity outside of McGrady would be guard/forward Mike Miller, but even then there are problems.  While Grant is earning near-max salary Miller is still on a rookie scale contract, meaning the Magic will need to give up a whole lot more.

Winderman believes Miller could be made redundant in Orlando should Hill be able to return healthy next season, and Miami do covet his shooting touch, meaning the deal makes sense for both teams.

Should they make the deal Orlando would take themselves out of the running for the services of Tim Duncan, Antonio McDyess, Jermaine O'Neal and Jason Kidd, all of whom could possibly be on the market in 2003.  Miami, however, would recoup the space Orlando loses putting them in an even stronger position in the same off season.