According to the Miami Herald, the Heat's preseason goal is to improve at point guard and small forward.  And, according to Pat Riley, the moves may not come primarily from the free agent market.

''If he's a player that his production has been such over the past three or four years that he's a double-digit [scorer], a starter, a heavy-minute rotation player and has contributed on a winning situation, you might think about it,'' Riley said.

Riley said he doesn't anticipate using the Heat's entire midlevel exception ($6 million) on just one player when free agents can begin signing contracts Wednesday.

The Heat has been in discussions with Denver free agent point guard Steve Blake, a former Miami High star, and Milwaukee guard Mo Williams since Sunday. But the Heat apparently does not value Blake, 27, as a talent worth $6 million a year.

Blake reportedly is seeking a five or six year deal worth at least $30 million.

Williams, 24, coming off a career season in Milwaukee, likely would command much more than the full midlevel exception.

The Heat's search for an answer at forward apparently doesn't include its own free agent, James Posey.

Riley said discussions are picking up regarding Posey, whose name has surfaced in deals involving as many as eight teams in recent days.

The Heat, according to the Miami Herald, recently has had trade discussions with Sacramento and the Los Angeles Clippers regarding Ron Artest and Corey Maggette.