The topic was finding ways to keep transgender children safe, and someone asked for volunteers to share an idea.

Tim Hardaway was the first to raise his hand.

"He was so genuine," said Martha Fugate, the director of the YES Institute, a children's advocacy group based in South Miami which hosted that discussion. "He gave the perfect answer."

Seven months ago, that simply wouldn't have happened.

With the start of training camp looming Tuesday, the Miami Heat remains in talks with as many as three teams regarding possible trades, according to the Miami Herald.

Among those potential partners are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are looking to unload several contracts after trading Kevin Garnett to Boston in a five-for-one deal in July.

The Garnett trade left Minnesota with a surplus of shooting guards and small forwards -- two positions where the Heat has been looking to add depth throughout the offseason.

Miami's interest likely centers on swingmen Ricky Davis and Trenton Hassell, veterans who apparently don't fit in Minnesota's plans to rebuild around a youthful nucleus of Al Jefferson, Gerald Green and former University of Florida star Corey Brewer.

Less than a week after losing out on Bucks free agent guard Charlie Bell, the Heat has added former Jazz point guard Brian Chase.

Listed anywhere from 5-feet-7 to 5-feet-10, Chase started last season with the Utah Jazz before finishing in the NBA Development League. He then spent time in the offseason on the Wizards' summer roster.

Chase, 25, is the fifth Heat prospect to be given a partial guarantee this offseason, joining Green, center Joel Anthony, and forwards Marcus Slaughter and Jeremy Richardson.

According to a league source, a trade was discussed this summer that would have sent Mike Bibby to Miami and brought Jason Williams back to Sacramento.

Williams and forward Udonis Haslem were offered in return, and possibly draft picks. Additionally, Miami was seriously interested in Artest, but the Kings didn't appear eager to move the small forward.

The consensus seems to be that -- barring an offer they can't refuse -- the Kings want to see Artest in action this season and feel somewhat confident he will both produce and avoid the off-court controversy that marred last season.

The Heat had been in trade talks with the Warriors for Mickael Pietrus and Sarunas Jasikevicius, but several proposals fell through. The agents for both players said Thursday they didn't expect the Heat to try to sign Pietrus or Jasikevicius through free agency.

The Heat, which is about $4 million over the NBA's dollar-for-dollar luxury-tax threshold ($67.8 million), also could withhold the remainder of its mid-level exception and reduce its tax burden.

Against his wishes, the Milwaukee Bucks moved to keep Charlie Bell on Thursday.

The Bucks confirmed they matched an offer sheet Bell signed with the Miami Heat for the restricted free-agent guard, a five-year deal worth $18.5 million.

Agent Mark Bartelstein said that Bell was absorbing what had happened and "getting his thoughts together."

"He's going to get himself prepared to have a great year with the Bucks and play his heart out, the only way he knows how to play," Bartelstein said.

The 6-foot-3 Bell had said he did not want to play for Milwaukee and instead wanted to go to Miami, which failed earlier in the offseason to sign Mo Williams away from the Bucks.

The Miami Heat has apparently missed out again in its quest to land a member of the Milwaukee Bucks backcourt.

Citing league sources, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported on its website Thursday that the Bucks have matched the Heat's offer sheet for restricted free agent Charlie Bell.

Bell, a six-foot-three combination guard, had signed a five-year, $18.5 million offer sheet with the Heat on Monday and said this week he did not wish to return to Milwaukee because of strained negotiations with the team.

Bell's agent, Mark Bartelstein, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

The Miami Heat have abandoned efforts to acquire restricted free agent Mickael Pietrus after the Warriors rejected the Heat's most recent proposals.

The Heat had presented the Warriors with at least three trade packages -- with point guard Jason Williams, center Michael Doleac and draft picks believed to have been among options that were discussed.

But the Warriors haven't budged despite Pietrus' repeated demands to be traded to the Heat. And after nearly two months of negotiations on potential sign-and-trade deals, the Heat shifted its focus to Charlie Bell and signed him to a five-year, $18.5 million offer sheet Monday.

Pietrus is coping with the likelihood he will be in Hawaii next month for the Warriors' training camp.

Pietrus, 25, is set to earn $3.47 million this season and would become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

''It's safe to say it's all off at this point,'' Pietrus' agent, Bill McCandless, said Wednesday regarding talks between his client, the Heat and the Warriors. ``The Heat would have to offer something different than what it has been. Golden State doesn't feel Miami has the assets it would be interested in.''

Jason Williams will have competition from Smush Parker and potentially Charlie Bell and could be moved.

He holds a $9 million expiring contract. Should the Heat be able to move his deal for a lower-priced contract of a much-needed small forward, say Golden State free agent Mickael Pietrus, the Heat would be able to balance its roster while also reducing its luxury-tax exposure.

The Miami Heat announced today that they have signed guard Charlie Bell to an offer sheet. Under NBA rules, the Milwaukee Bucks now have seven days to match the offer or the restricted free agent will be a member of the Heat.

According to a report by the Associated Press in Sports Illustrated, the offer sheet is for $18.5M over five years.

Bell, a 6?3?, 200-pound guard, appeared in all 82 games (64 starts) for the Bucks last season and averaged 13.5 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.18 steals and 34.7 minutes. A three-year NBA veteran, Bell began his NBA career after signing with the Phoenix Suns as an undrafted free agent on July 23, 2001. In addition to playing for the Suns and Bucks, he also saw action with the Dallas Mavericks during the 2001-02 season. For his career he has averaged 10.9 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 28.2 minutes while shooting 43.7 percent from the floor and 75.7 percent from the foul line.