Unlike most cases when the Heat coach downplays free-agent prospects, Miami coach Pat Riley sounded intrigued Monday with the possibility of adding 6-foot-8 veteran Jalen Rose, who was waived by the Knicks Monday.

"He's a very skilled player," Riley said shortly after Rose agreed to a buyout with the Knicks. "He's still young, I think, at 33 years old. So he is capable. He's very capable, we know that. But he has to be at the right place at the right time."

Riley offered his comment about Rose shortly after he said a potential return of forward Shandon Anderson has been placed on the backburner.

Because Rose received a significant portion of the $17 million he was due this season from the Knicks, he would arrive with relatively little impact on the Heat's salary cap.