Coach/president Pat Riley said the team is preparing in earnest for the draft. He said the Heat, which has ensured themselves of the league's worst record and is guaranteed a top-four pick, is "identifying the lottery picks, 10 through 20, 20 through 30, and second-round picks."
The Heat could be considered loaded when it comes to rebuilding a 14- or 15-win team. It returns bona fide stars in Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion, and good general talent among forward Udonis Haslem, forward Dorell Wright, guard Marcus Banks and guard Daequan Cook. Beyond that, the Heat has sign-and-trade options with Marion, guard Jason Williams and swingman Ricky Davis. And it could package its first-round pick with almost any player or combination of players except for Wade.
Riley said the Heat is also in the process of "identifying every team in the lottery we might be doing business with and every team out of the lottery we may be doing business with."
"I think we'll have all this stuff compiled by the middle of May," Riley said.
The lottery drawing is May 20. The draft is June 26.
RAPTORS 91, HEAT 75: The pressure is on. Miami, which fell to 14-67, needs to defeat Atlanta on Wednesday to avoid the worst record in franchise history. The 1988-89 team finished 15-67.
Coach Pat Riley said his players aren't thinking about the mark, and the players don't like to talk about the mark, but it's out there.
"It's been one of those seasons," coach Pat Riley said.
At least Miami made this loss to Toronto respectable. The Heat had lost to the Raptors by 32, 25 and 42 points in three previous games this season.
Daequan Cook led Miami with 22 points. Forward Kasib Powell had 10 rebounds.
