Jim Jackson's long wait finally has ended.

Jackson finished last season with the Cavaliers, but they had no interest in re-signing him when he became a free agent during the summer, and neither did many other teams. But Jackson, after missing all of training camp and the first month of the regular season, signed a non-guaranteed contract yesterday with Miami.

``I worked out hard, and I worked out a lot since the end of last season to stay in great shape with the anticipation that something would happen,'' Jackson said after his first practice with the Heat. ``I'm healthier than I have been in five years.''

Jackson, a 6-foot-6 swingman, signed a pro-rated deal for the nine-year veteran minimum of $965,850. If he's still on the roster Jan. 10, his contract will be guaranteed for the year.

``He realizes the terms of his contract,'' said his agent, Mark Termini. ``He's determined to turn his career around.''

Jackson, a Toledo native and former Ohio State star, was hoping to end his career with the Cavs after being acquired in a trade last January. But in 39 games, he shot just 39 percent and averaged just 10.3 points, well below his career mark of 16.8.

Jackson's phone rarely rang during the summer. He said a ``couple teams held'' him back by saying negative things, but he wouldn't name the teams.

Termini said there was ``a bad rap on Jimmy for some reason. Some things carried weight, and some didn't.'' Termini would not reveal teams but did say he knows of nothing negative said by the Cavs.

``There was a rap put out that Jimmy had difficulty getting along with coaches,'' Termini said. ``But in dealing with (Miami coach) Pat Riley that never came up. Some organizations wanted to do an FBI investigation of Jimmy from his rookie year on. But we weren't going to do that.''

Jackson, 31, had an offer in mid-November to sign a similar non-guaranteed deal with Memphis, but he turned it down because he wasn't thrilled with joining one of the NBA's worst teams. Jackson is not concerned that the Heat at 2-13 actually have a worse record the Grizzlies.

``This was a great opportunity,'' he said. ``The Heat's record may not indicate that, but I believe the players and coaching here is top rate. I believe this team will turn around soon.''

The Heat had interest in Jackson for several months. The interest picked up when Riley, already without injured guard Sam Mack, learned that swingman Kendall Gill would be out a few more weeks with a hand injury.

``I didn't want to bring somebody in and have to wait two or three weeks to bring them up to speed,'' Riley said. ``Jackson can play right now. This is a great opportunity here to restart his career.''

DIOP RETURNS -- After missing 15 games with a sprained left knee, Cavs rookie center DeSagana Diop returned Saturday. Diop, wearing a knee brace, went scoreless in three first-half minutes. Diop, injured after playing six scoreless minutes in the Oct. 30 opener, missed a layup, his only field-goal attempt. ``He should have dunked that ball,'' said Cavs John Lucas, who said it will take some time for Diop's conditioning to return.

NOTABLE -- The Cavs went 5-10 in November, missing by one game Lucas' goal of going 6-9 for the month. Lucas' goal for December is 7-7. ``I try to give (the players) what is realistic, not a pipe dream,'' he said. . . . After losing their first four home games by an average of 19.5 points, the Cavs have won four of their past five at home. . . . The Cavs are shooting 42.2 percent, which is on track to be the lowest in team history. They shot 42.4 percent during their expansion season of 1970-71.