On Tuesday, Dwyane Wade gave a strong indication that he plans to return from his dislocated left shoulder before the end of the season.

Wade's options are a vigorous rehabilitation program that could have him back for the final two weeks of the regular season, or surgery that would not have him back until next season. In either case, surgery would eventually be a necessity.

Asked about potential long-term risks by delaying the surgery, Wade sounded as if would move forward with a short-term solution.

"Of course you always worry about what-if, there's always the what-if," he said of potentially aggravating his injury. "But if that decision comes to play where I decide to come back, you can't think about the what-if, you've got to go ahead with it."

He is scheduled to receive a second opinion Thursday, but sounded Tuesday as if he had been well versed on the rehabilitation option.

"I mean, the reports are accurate: It's eventually surgery," he said. "But there's also an opportunity in there where I can opt for the rehab, and the rehab and the therapy, and get it strong and make a return by the end of the season.

"I'm feeling as good as I can feel," he said, with his left arm in a sling and the left sleeve of his suit coat flapping by his side. "My spirits are high, and that's the main thing. I know that everything in life happens for a reason, so I will find out what this reason is."

Steve Francis says he is not thinking about an early retirement, but the injured Knicks guard can't say when he will play again.

Francis is out indefinitely due to chronic soreness in his right knee. Coincidentally, Francis has not played since Thursday's trading deadline. The Knicks were hoping to move Francis, and at one point there were conversations about trading him to Miami in a deal that would have included James Posey's expiring contract.

When asked last night if he believes the troublesome knee could force him to retire, Francis said: "No. That's the last thing."

A buyout seems more likely.

Shaquille O'Neal went over the 25,000-point mark for his career midway through the first quarter against the Knicks on Monday night.

O'Neal, who entered the contest five points shy, is the top scorer among active players and 14th overall in NBA history. The Heat center is the seventh to reach 25,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

The milestone basket came with 6:04 left in the period when he muscled Malik Rose in the paint, backed him up and then scored over him to give Miami a 16-9 advantage.

The 15-year veteran is the first to hit the scoring milestone since Indiana's Reggie Miller on March 23, 2005. O'Neal, limited to just 17 of Miami's first 56 games this season because of a knee injury, came in with 11,193 rebounds.

He joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Elvin Hayes, and Hakeem Olajuwon as those with 25,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.

Pat Riley confirmed a report that said the Heat and Grizzlies were discussing a trade for veteran point guard Chucky Atkins before last Thursday's trade deadline.

Riley said the reason the Heat did not acquire Atkins was because the Grizzlies were insisting Miami also take Stromile Swift in the deal.

''That's a good deal, but Stromile's got four years under contract that we just didn't want to digest,'' Riley said. ``That's not where we want to go with our future money.''

Riley said declining the move had nothing to do with Wade sustaining a serious injury less than 24 hours before the deadline.

Dwyane Wade is seeking a second opinion for his injured shoulder.

He will either have season-ending surgery or will rehabilitate the shoulder in hopes to return.

Pat Riley said the team ''encouraged'' Wade to collect more information.

"He's sore. He's all strapped in," said Riley, who spoke with Wade for about 10 minutes by telephone Saturday night. ``We had a good conversation.''

A proposed deal that would have sent Stromile Swift and point guard Chucky Atkins to Miami for former Griz forward James Posey, center Michael Doleac and a draft pick was agreed upon in principal until Heat guard Dwyane Wade suffered a separated shoulder.

Wade's injury Wednesday -- on the eve of the NBA's trade deadline -- made the Heat pull out for fear that they may not be able to contend for a championship. The inability to consummate the deal was a disappointment for Griz brass as much as it was for Swift and Atkins.

The Griz wanted to create more salary-cap space with Posey's expiring $6.4 million contract. The little-used Swift saw an opportunity to play. Atkins wanted to follow in the footsteps of his buddy, Eddie Jones, and join a possible playoff team.

Coincidentally, Swift and Atkins are represented by agent Andy Miller, who had convinced both players that the deal was real.

"I see what direction this is going so it wouldn't have bothered," Swift said. "But I'm definitely sure something will happen this summer. But I'll stay ready if they do call on me."

Dwyane Wade continues to mull his options regarding his shoulder injury.

If he chooses rehab and rest, he could return with 10 games remaining in the season.

"There's one constant about this game: The games are going to continue to come. So we've got to be ready to play, no matter what," Heat guard Eddie Jones said. "We hope the best for him. Hopefully he comes back quick. But the games are going to come and we've got to play without him."

Sources told CBS SportsLine.com that Udonis Haslem, James Posey and Dorell Wright were offered to Sacramento for Mike Bibby, but wasn't enough to get a deal done.

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade suffered a dislocated left shoulder with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter of last night?s 112-102 loss at Houston. After the game he flew back to Miami on a private plane accompanied by Heat Athletic Trainer Ron Culp and met with Heat team physician Dr. Harlan Selesnick at Doctors Hospital where he underwent a battery of tests.

Given that the injury occurred less than 18 hours ago, Wade is presently weighing his treatment options provided to him by the Heat medical staff. Wade still needs to discuss these options with his family and Heat President and Head Coach Pat Riley and will then decide what course of action to take.

The Heat will have no further comment until a decision has been made as to what action will be taken. Additionally, the team and the Wade family request that the public respect his privacy as he weighs his options and decides what path to take.

Dwyane Wade likely sustaining what was initially called a dislocated left shoulder last night against the Houston Rockets, which could keep Wade out for a period of about six weeks.

"It looks like Dwyane is going to be out for a while," coach Pat Riley said, as the team awaited an update from the hospital where Wade was transported to via ambulance. "We're going to arrange to get him back to Miami as soon as possible."

Wade was injured early in the fourth quarter after gambling for a steal against Rockets forward Shane Battier.

Wade so contorted his left shoulder that the medical staff did not want to risk contact as he was taken off the court. Wade grimaced on the bench amid a futile attempt to pop the shoulder back into place, before a wheelchair was summoned.