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Miami Heat president, coach to take pay cuts

Economic problems have forced Heat president Pat Riley, coach Erik Spoelstra and several members of the team's front-office to take pay cuts entering the season.

Spoelstra said recently that he expected to open his second season as coach with his entire staff of assistants intact. But financial problems that led to reductions of about 20 employees on the business staff earlier this year have apparently spilled over to basketball operations.

The Heat is already facing the prospect of having to pay about $3 million in NBA luxury tax fees for operating beyond the league's $69.9 million threshold for excessive payrolls. Miami has only 13 players under guaranteed contracts entering the season, two less than the league maximum.

Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's deal extended

The Heat has extended coach Erik Spoelstra's contract in the wake of Spoelstra and all the employees in basketball operations, including president Pat Riley, accepting voluntary pay cuts to eliminate the need for layoffs.

Spoelstra also confirmed that forward Michael Beasley -- who left a Houston rehabilitation facility Sunday -- was at AmericanAirlines Arena on Monday, where players are working out informally, and has improved his game significantly this summer.

Beasley, who is in the league's substance-abuse program because of a marijuana incident at the NBA's rookie symposium last summer, was required to stay 30 days in the inpatient program at the Houston facility after violating one of the program's rules.

Miami Heat owner confident Dwyane Wade will stay

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.

Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade waits until 2010 to get paid

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade said Wednesday he won't sign a long-term extension with the Heat and will revisit his future with the team as a free agent next summer.

Speaking from the Chicago-area church he bought for his mother two years ago, Wade said he and agent Henry Thomas told the Heat it would be best to hold off a decision until after the 2009-10 season.

With training camp set to open Sept. 28 in advance of the Oct. 28 season opener against New York, Wade said his focus has shifted from contract talk and toward preparing for his seventh NBA season.

Miami Heat to bring back point guard Rafer Alston

Point guard Rafer Alston, a spark plug on the Heat's 2003-04 playoff team, plans to sign with Miami after agreeing to a buyout with New Jersey on Tuesday, a source close to the situation said.

To avoid going further above the NBA's luxury-tax threshold, the Heat traded guard Chris Quinn to New Jersey. Point guard Carlos Arroyo's roster spot also appears at risk; his $1.1 million salary would become guaranteed for the rest of the season if he is not released by Wednesday.

Alston can sign with the Heat on Thursday, assuming he passes through waivers without another team picking up the final year of a contract that is paying him $5.3 million this season. He will sign with the Heat for a prorated portion of the NBA's minimum salary.