Nets guard Rafer Alston expects to begin the season with either the Knicks or Heat, according to a source.

"New York and Miami are the top two teams on Rafer's list," the source told ESPN 1050 in New York. "He can't play in a contract year in New Jersey behind Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling."

Alston was part of the package that the Magic sent to the Nets for Vince Carter back in June.

Because of his expiring contract, Alston is a valuable trade chip.

"(Mike) D'Antoni might be the only coach in the league that would let Rafer be Rafer," the source added.

Heat forward Michael Beasley admitted that he hit rock bottom during a recent stay at a rehab facility in Houston.

In addition, Beasley denied that he has a substance abuse problem and apologized to the Miami Heat organization.

"Being locked down for as long as I was gave me a chance to really get my life organized and get back in touch with myself," Beasley told the Associated Press. "I think over this past year, I've got caught up in the NBA life, as most of us do. I think this gave me the perfect opportunity to just sit down and evaluate my life and get the good separated from the bad."

Beasley told reporters that he was able to spend between 60 and 90 minutes working out during his time at the facility.

"In my worst hour, in my lowest hour, to know that my team and my organization backed me up 100 percent, it gives you comfort," Beasley said. "It gave me confidence in myself that I might have lost and that might not have been there first. It's just making me feel a whole lot better as a player and a person."

He resumed workouts with his teammates in Miami on Monday.

Alonzo Mourning has officially joined the front office of the Heat as their vice president of player programs.

One of his primary responsibilities will be to mentor players on and off the court, according to the Miami Herald.

The Heat made the official announcement on Thursday, eight months after the seven-time All-Star center retired.

The Heat are expected to offer John Lucas III and forward Shavlik Randolph contracts prior to training camp next week.

Both players have been working out at AmericanAirlines Arena recently.

Lucas split last season between Colorado of the NBA Development League and a team in the Spanish League.

Randolph played in 10 games for the Trail Blazers last season after spending the previous three seasons with the 76ers.

The Heat have extended the contract of head coach Erik Spoelstra.

The move comes in the wake of news that all the team's employees in basketball operations, including president Pat Riley, accepted voluntary pay cuts earlier this year.

Spoelstra, who reportedly was given a three-year contract when he was named head coach in April 2008, did not disclose terms of the extension, but it is believed to be for one year.

The Heat are hoping that Jermaine O'Neal will be able to stay healthy and become an All-Star player once again.

"Jermaine O'Neal is a proven former All-Star center, who is only 30 years old," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But he's a five-, six-time All-Star. Those guys don't grow on trees. You can't find these guys and the big thing with him was getting healthy."

O'Neal worked hard this offseason, spending seven weeks working with Miami's staff and another eight weeks with trainer Tim Glover.

Not wanting to sound too optimistic, Spoelstra added that  "you aren't going to be able to find out until you actually see him playing, but he's moving around fine."

O'Neal used his Twitter page to declare himself ready for the 2009-10 season recently: "I just finished up with my last full workout at attack with tim grover and i can honestly say that 'I AM READY" PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY!' "

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says that forward Michael Beasley, who returned to the team after a stay in a rehab facility, "looks good."

Beasley joined his teammates at an informal workout on Monday a day after returning to the Miami area.

"He looks good. He looked good. He's fit," Spoelstra told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Spoelstra added that the team remained in contact with Beasley during his time at a Houston substance-abuse center.

"We had a coach there every day with him," the coach added. "I went there three times. So he's actually in great physical condition right now."

Michael Beasley is back with the Heat, but the team still hasn't decided where he'll play on the court this season.

Miami will kick off the NBA season against New York nex month, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that there are three different possibilities for Beasley.

Beasley could start at either small forward or power forward or come off the bench as Miami's sixth man.

Playing the second-year man at small forward makes sense because Miami doesn't have another strong option at the position, but he was drafted as a power forward.

Ira Winderman writes that bringing Beasley off the bench would allow the Heat's second unit to remain potent with Dwyane Wade on the bench.

Heat forward Michael Beasley returned to South Florida on Sunday after his release from a substance-abuse center in Houston.

Beasley is expected to work out with teammates at AmericanAirlines Arena on Monday.

The second-year forward was moved into an inpatient facility last month after violating his NBA-imposed substance-abuse program.

During his stay at the facility, he was allowed to work out with Miami's coaches and trainers.

Michael Beasley Sr. says that his son will be released from a Houston rehab center on Sunday.

He added that he expects the Heat to have a more mature player this season following the ordeal.

"He said he learned a lot about himself in this process," the elder Beasley told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, "and it was a wake-up call for him that he needs to take his career more seriously."

The Miami forward has been in inpatient treatment since last month, after committing a violation while in the NBA's substance-abuse program.

"He's OK. He's got his head together. He's happy," Beasley's father added. "He talked about the decisions he made that got him where he was. And once he took responsibility for that, then he took the program more seriously."