Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports: Pat Riley suggested his thought process about dismantling could change if the Heat falls further behind in the race for the eighth playoff spot.

The Heat is seven games behind No. 8 seeds New York and Charlotte. Riley admitted his interest would be piqued if a team offers the Heat a potential high lottery pick. And a source insisted that Grant and Jones are available in a trade.

Speaking at length for the first time this season about the Heat's long-term future, Riley didn't address his own future, but said he hopes the team will be competitive this season and next before more than $20 million in cap space becomes available in the summer of 2003, when Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Antonio McDyess headline a rich free agent class.

Despite that philosophy, Riley was asked whether he has given more thought recently to major changes.

``There will be a day,'' Riley said.

``Until we're 20 games out of a playoff spot, I don't know. It could get better quick.''

In a related article, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports: Pat Riley acknowledged just how much the Heat misses the veteran point guard.

Asked if the team had anyone who has stepped into Hardaway's role of late-game decisiveness, Riley said, "No, no, not close."

"Tim had a special gift that none of these players have -- he had a cannon," Riley said. "He had one with his arm and one with his mouth. That's what I loved about Hardaway."