Disappointed with Dwyane Wade's decision not to sign a contract extension, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison said Tuesday he takes comfort in the spending flexibility Miami would have if it needs to rebuild on the fly.

With about $40 million in expiring contracts, the Heat's priority is to re-sign Wade to a maximum-level contract and also add as many as two other top-tier free agents from a 2010 class to be headlined by Cleveland's LeBron James, Toronto's Chris Bosh and Phoenix's Amare Stoudemire.

Wade turned down an opportunity to sign a three-year extension last summer and has said he would opt out of his deal and enter free agency.

Asked how concerned he was about Wade's pending decision, Arison mentioned the spending flexibility Miami will have next summer.

``That's why we're in a position to respond if something happens,'' Arison said during a meeting with reporters before Tuesday's game against the Wizards. ``I have every indication from Dwyane that this is where he wants to be. He loves Miami. He'd like to spend his whole career [here]. But the reality is I don't have his signature on a contract. We've talked about an extension [and] I was disappointed we couldn't come to a decision.''

Wade has not ruled out a return to the negotiating table, and he is eligible to sign an extension until June 30. At the same time, Arison also said Tuesday he hasn't ruled out authorizing team president Pat Riley to aggressively pursue trades that would bolster the roster this season to complement Wade.

Arison said too much emphasis has been placed on next summer, when major deals could surface sooner.

``The issue in [2010] is flexibility and getting better,'' Arison said. ``There's a lot of great free agents available in [2010]. But if we can get one or two of those players in [2009], wouldn't we? So it's not about [2010]. It's about the players. I think this focus on [2010] has been misguided.''

Speaking with the media for the first time this season about the team, Arison addressed issues including the future of Riley, the franchise's financial struggles and plans to ultimately hand ownership reigns over to his son, Nick, a front-office executive.

In just the past nine months, the Heat has been hit hard by the global economic downturn that has impacted the league. The Heat has been involved in lawsuits to collect on luxury-suite payments and reportedly had one of the league's worst drop-offs in ticket revenue.

The franchise also had to lay off about 20 employees in business operations, and the basketball staff absorbed pay cuts of as much as 20 percent. Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra were among the front-office staff members who had to relinquish six-figure salary amounts to stave off the further staff cuts.

Arison, chairman of Carnival Cruise Lines, estimates he has seen as much as a $200 million reduction in operating costs in that business.

``No question this is going to be a tough year for the franchise,'' said Arison, who insists he has no interest in selling the team despite sustaining millions in annual losses. ``It's about trying to lose less money. We've never made money here. We're trying to create a climate of fiscal discipline like every other business.''

ALL-STAR BALLOT

Wade, Michael Beasley, Udonis Haslem and Jermaine O'Neal and are the Heat players on the ballot for the All-Star Game to be played Feb. 14 at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Fan voting began Tuesday upon the league's release of the ballot. The Heat is likely to be well-represented during All-Star weekend activities.

Beasley is expected to play with the sophomore team in the Rookie Challenge on Feb. 12. Daequan Cook plans to defend his title in Saturday's 3-Point Shootout, and Wade essentially is a lock to make his sixth consecutive All-Star Game.

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