It took Kendall Gill well into the free-agency period this summer to sign with the Heat.

The exhibition season was nearly complete before Rod Strickland joined the team. And Jim Jackson likely would never have been picked up had Miami not started its season so poorly.

All three have one-year contracts and are approaching the end of their careers. Given their experiences this summer, this season could determine whether their careers will continue.

But these veterans aren't concerning themselves with individual numbers this season, and have managed to avoid feeling the pressures that go along with one-year contracts.

Strickland's motivation is simple. He says he's playing for respect, not money.

"I knew the situation I was in over the summer, so that wasn't the concern," he said. "I came here because I needed to get back to liking the game, forget loving it. I needed a challenge, I needed someone who was going to push me. That's the reason why I came here. My whole concern was just this year and getting back into the state of mind of playing basketball.

"I just had two tough years in D.C. It was no fun and it affected me. These last two years I kind of lost respect, I think, so I came here to kind of gain that back. The money issue always takes care of itself. Either it is or it's not going to be there. You can't control that."

So instead of forcing things, Strickland came in intending to prove he was coachable, reliable and still good enough to run a team.

"It's taken time for me because I came here on eggshells," Strickland said. "I think I probably had too much in my head about the past and what people thought of me or whatever.

"I just came in and tried to fit in. I kind of just skipped my way around. Now I feel a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more in control.

That alone should make Strickland, who was deemed a team cancer with the Washington Wizards and the Portland Trail Blazers during the past two seasons, attractive to several teams next off-season.

As for Gill and Jackson, they know they won't be able to build up individual statistics in a structured offense like Pat Riley's.

So the two of them plan on using the team's performance to increase their stock and help extend their careers.

"If the team does well, then I think everybody's value goes up," Gill said. "If you finish up the season on a last-place team and your numbers are down, then there's something to be said about that.

"I think you have to look at the system that the person is in. You have to look at the circumstances, and go from there. But, of course, your numbers determine your contract."

The best possible scenario for Gill, Jackson and Strickland would be for the Heat to continue their recent strong play for the rest of the season and entice Riley to bring each of them them back next season.

Only as many as seven Heat players will be under contract at year's end, so the veterans returning remains a possibility. It's one that all three would prefer.

"I love it here," Jackson said. "It's just unfortunate we weren't here, the core group, together through training camp and through pre-season."

Said Strickland: "I would love to come back, there's no question about it. But that's not in my control, so I don't worry about that."

For now, the three will play this season knowing their future hangs in the balance -- without feeling any added pressure.

"If I was in my first or second year, then I would feel some pressure," Gill said. "But I've been playing for 12 years. When you put pressure on yourself, you don't play well anyway."