Heat needs creativity to avoid luxury tax

Yet that search for a point guard and center will not be made out of desperation, nothing like last October's trade for Ricky Davis that left the Heat without a 2009 first-round pick but with Blount's contract.

"Last year's team, and the trade for Ricky, we thought we were a good team," Riley said. "We thought we were going to be in the playoffs."

Beasley steps up

After being implored by summer-league coach Keith Askins during the second quarter to get on the block and stop settling for jumpers, Beasley stepped up to close with 25 points and eight rebounds in Friday's 74-69 loss to the Magic.

"I think, overall, I played decent," said Beasley, who averaged 19.6 points and 7.4 rebounds over his five appearances, but shot only .383. "I learned it's not easy being a rookie."

Beasley said he would now turn to the business side of the game, saying he's "got to go to 60 different states."

Chalmers showed the fatigue of having to run the team for five consecutive days, shooting 3 of 9 against Orlando Friday, boosted by 8-of-10 foul shooting to close with 15 points.

"I'm happy to be at this level," he said.

Already gone

Rookie free-agent forward Pat Calathes left the Heat on Thursday to work with the Lakers' summer team. Scheduled to leave after Friday for other teams in the Las Vegas summer league were forward Dion Dowell (Warriors), guard Antonio Graves (Knicks) and guard Anthony Morrow (Warriors).

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(c) 2008, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.