Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports that Heat free agent point guard Rod Strickland could be heading to Indiana. Strickland?s agent, Rock Newman said that they could be signing a deal as early as today with a team other than the Heat. Newman did not specifically say they would sign with the Pacers, but he was in Indianapolis yesterday supposedly working on the details of a deal.

''There is a distinct possibility [Strickland] could have a deal as early as [today],'' Newman said. ``I just won't go as far as to say where that greatest likelihood is. But he could sign [today].''

Heat GM Randy Pfund would not discuss Miami?s negotiations with Strickland. ?There's not much we can do about other [teams] who get involved in the situation. . . . Anything is possible.? He said.

It?s believed that disagreements over contract length have stagnated negotiations between Strickland and the Heat. Strickland wants a 2-year deal, the Heat will only offer one. If he signs with the Pacers, it will likely be a reserve role behind Jamal Tinsley.

The Heat will be left looking at the free agent market to try and find a starting point guard. Chicago?s Travis Best would be the best remaining point, but while his agent said he expects to speak with the Heat today, he added that Best is close to signing with another club.  Other options might be Chris Childs, Jeff McInnis, Troy Hudson and Rafer Alston.

Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports that the Heat may be running out of options at point guard. They had Minnesota?s Chauncey Billups on their short list of potential free agent signings, but he has apparently agreed in principal to a contract with the Pistons. Now the Bulls? Travis Best has informed the Heat that he is close to signing with another team.

''Let's just say we have some things cooking that would take us off the market very soon,'' said Forrest King, Best's agent. ``We could have a deal by [July] 17th.''

King confirmed that talks with the Heat are ongoing but they haven?t discussed specifics. Negotiations with other teams have progressed beyond that point. Still, Best believes that the Heat could be a good fit for him. ''We think that, clearly, the best fit for [the Heat] is Travis,'' King said. ``He can run a halfcourt offense, and he can run the break. And he can also create his own shot.''

The Heat are still talking to free agent Rod Strickland who is looking for more than the $1 million veterans minimum. Best is looking for the entire middle-class exception, which is estimated to be about $4.6 million.

With Billups and Best possibly off the list, the Heat's top free agent options -- other than Strickland -- might be Chris Childs and Jeff McInnis. McInnis' agent said last week he planned to speak with the Heat about his client. Childs' agent has been unavailable for comment, and the Heat does not comment on free agency negotiations.

When Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez began summer camp with the Miami Heat on tuesday, many didn't think much of it but Heat Head Coach Pat Riley seems to be quite found of Gonzalez despite the fact that Gonzalez doesn't feel that way about himself reports Israel Gutierrez of the Palm Beach Post

On Tuesday, Riley called Gonzalez the best player on the floor.

However, Gonzalez didn't think so highly of his own performance two days later.

"(Thursday) was horrible for me," Gonzalez said. "It's tough. You have overseas players here, you have guys like Sean Lampley here who was Pac-10 player of the year, a guy like Luke (Recker) who could have went first round before his accident."

Despite his difficulties, Gonzalez remained in the Heat's summer camp Friday because no cuts were made. The team is expected to be narrowed from 17 to 10 or 12 players this weekend, before it travels to Orlando for the start of summer-league play Tuesday.

The All-Pro isn't overly concerned with the prospect of getting cut.

"I've never been through that before, but I'm not nervous," Gonzalez said. "I said this was a long shot from the beginning. Whatever happens, happens."

Whatever the result of Gonzalez's latest basketball endeavor, he plans to give hoops one last shot after the upcoming football season.

"I'm going to keep going until they tell me 'Hey, you have to go. We don't want you here,' " Gonzalez said. "If I can't get it done this year, I'm going to take that month off after football, and if a team says if I'm ready, they'll bring me in for a 10-day contract. If I can't do that this year, I think I'm going to hang it up."

Stephen F. Holder of the MIami Herald reports: The Heat already has slightly less than $52 million committed to salaries for the upcoming season, with only six players under contract. Yet, coach Pat Riley says Miami will be a player in the free agent market, in addition to re-signing several of its free agents.

There is seemingly no way the Heat can avoid paying the luxury tax, a dollar-for-dollar penalty the league will assess on the amount of a team's payroll that exceeds approximately $54 million. (The final figure will be determined later.)

Considering the Heat has yet to deal with four of its primary free agents -- Rod Strickland, Jim Jackson, Vladimir Stepania and Eddie House -- and that it could sign one or more other free agents, it might not be long before Miami surpasses the threshold.

But that apparently is OK -- as long as the team does not get itself into a rut.

With free agent negotiations beginning this week and signings permitted beginning July 16, Miami appears poised to spend some extra millions. It is also open to using all of its $4.6 million cap exception, assuming the team can be creative enough to regain control of its financial situation for next summer.

''I think we're versatile enough to get out from under [the tax] fast,'' Riley said.

Israel Gutierrez of the Palm Beach Post reports: Given the simplicity of rookie contracts in the NBA, signing first-round pick Caron Butler was simply a matter of when the Heat and Butler wanted to get the deal done.

Because Butler will be playing in the Heat's summer-league team, the two sides agreed on the deal exactly one week after Butler was drafted.

The Heat signed Butler to a four-year contract Wednesday, beginning at the maximum available for the No. 10 pick, $1.67 million.

"I don't think it should be thought of as anything especially unique," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "That's the nature of No. 1 picks. A lot of teams don't sign them immediately. But they wanted to get it done, we wanted to get it done and we want to get him here and get him working on his game, on his body, finding a place in Miami to get settled in so he can begin to train. We don't want, nor should a player want, to sign, go off for the summer somewhere, do his own routine and show up some time in September."

Butler's deal is guaranteed for the first three years, with a team option for the fourth year. Should Miami pick up the option on Butler after four years, he would then become a restricted free agent before his fifth year.

Butler's signing means the Heat have six players under contract, the others being Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones, LaPhonso Ellis, Anthony Carter and Brian Grant.

Stephen F. Holder of the Miami Herald reports: Like most NBA teams, the Heat was burning up the phone lines Monday, the first day negotiations with free agents were permitted.

The representative for Lakers free agent Devean George, who could potentially fill the need for a starting small forward, confirmed his client was among those the Heat inquired about on Day 1.

''I think Devean would fit in nicely there,'' George's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. ``The type of defense Devean plays would work well with the type of defense they play with [coach] Pat Riley.''

But adding a player such as George would cost Miami, especially considering the team is on the verge of being penalized with the luxury tax, which will be assessed on payrolls of about $53-54 million and more next season.

However, Riley has hinted at a willingness by owner Micky Arison to incur the tax, provided it would bring an impact player. Giving George some or all of the team's $4.6 million cap exception would almost guarantee a luxury tax.

''It's nice,'' Bartelstein said of the Heat's financial flexibility. ``They're a competitive franchise. They want to win and they'll do what they have to.''

Teams may begin signing player contracts on July 16.