Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ricky Davis and Milwaukee Bucks forward Anthony Mason have become the latest ex-Heat players to take swipes at their former team and coach.

While Mason suggested he didn't have ``fun'' with the Heat, Davis, 22, said Friday that Heat coach Pat Riley stifles young players' creativity and doesn't give them a fair chance.

``There's no freedom,'' said Davis, dealt last week in the Chris Gatling deal. ``You don't get a chance to play. I was relieved to leave. Most of the young guys are offensive-oriented, and you don't get a chance to show that in Miami. It's not a place for young fellows.

Meanwhile, Mason said of George Karl, ``I've got a coach who's someone you can talk to. It's a family atmosphere around here. Guys have fun. I haven't been on a team that has fun, whether it's a coach who doesn't make it fun or whether it's just the guys.''

In other news, The Heat expressed interest in Utah small forward Bryon Russell, but the Jazz said it doesn't plan to trade him.
Russell, who will be a free agent next summer, earns $5.14 million, but the Heat would be interested only if it could dump comparable salary on the Jazz.

It would be difficult for Miami to trade for a small forward in the next six weeks because only four players -- House, Alonzo Mourning, Brian Grant and Eddie Jones -- could be traded before Dec. 15. Miami's 11 other players, who signed or re-signed as free agents, cannot be traded until Dec. 15 or three months after signing, whichever is later.