Not one to simmer

Wade optimistic Heat can rebound

As beautiful as winning his first NBA title was two years ago, the ugliness of last season is much more on the mind of Heat star guard Dwyane Wade.

In 2006, the Heat won their first championship, with Wade leading the way. The Most Valuable Player of the Finals was arguably the most popular player in the league at the time, and was then named Sports Illustrated's Man of the Year. The Heat, however, were bitter cold last season as Wade played in only 51 games because of left knee and left shoulder injuries, Shaquille O'Neal was eventually traded, and Miami finished with the NBA's worst record.

"Indescribable" was how Wade recently described last season. "You know how when someone says after they won a championship that they can't describe their feelings? When you go through a season like that, you can't describe the feeling.

"Every day is like a week or year and it takes forever for a season like that to get over with. You need time like that in sports to give you that feeling back about winning and being hungry."

By the time next season arrives, the only players remaining from the Heat's title team could be Wade and forward Udonis Haslem. Miami also has a new coach in longtime assistant Erik Spoelstra, who replaced Pat Riley. But with four-time All-Star Shawn Marion, rookie guard Mario Chalmers, and most notably, rookie forward Michael Beasley (the second overall pick in the draft), Wade expects the Heat to be turned back up.

"Beasley is the best player in the draft in terms of being ready right now and the future," Wade said. "[The Bulls'] Derrick Rose is an unbelievable talent. [The Grizzlies'] O.J. Mayo is an unbelievable talent. We would have loved to have any one of them. But, of course, we got the pick that was the best player in the draft, we can hang our hats on that and build around him ourselves."

One thing that could help Wade get his mind off the Heat's miserable 2007-08 season would be winning a gold medal in next month's Beijing Olympics.

The United States failed to win the gold in 2004, as Wade was a member of the disappointing bronze-medal team in Athens. Because of injuries, Wade didn't play for Team USA when it qualified for this year's Games by winning the FIBA Americas Championships last year. But with Wade expected to come off the bench for a star-studded team that also includes Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, and Jason Kidd, the US is expected to win gold again.

"Gold, only the gold. [Bronze], I don't even know that word. It doesn't appeal to me," Wade said.

There was talk that Wade might not play in Beijing because of his knee, but he says that is not an issue, although it remains to be seen whether his slashing, high-flying game is back completely.

"My knee's fine," Wade said. "My main thing is getting my conditioning back. This next month is going to be critical for getting my timing back. But I'm not limited in what we can do."

The focus next season in the Eastern Conference will be on Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, Orlando, Cleveland, and Washington. But with a healthy Wade alongside Marion and Beasley, the Heat could factor into that mix.

Mullin says Warriors can still be golden

Although Golden State lost its top scorer when free agent guard Baron Davis signed with the Clippers, executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin is confident the Warriors will be successful with the free agent acquisition of Corey Maggette, and possibly picking up restricted free agent forward Ronny Turiaf (who signed an offer sheet that could still be matched by the Lakers).

"You know how much I like Baron," said Mullin in a telephone interview Friday. "I wish we could have got that deal done and done some other things, too. But we'll be all right."

In Davis, the Warriors lost an All-Star-caliber player who averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 assists, and 2.3 steals per game last season. In signing Maggette, Golden State added a player who averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists for the Clippers last season.

"[Maggette's] a pure scorer," Mullin said. "With losing Baron, we needed a scoring punch. One of the biggest things in my mind is he attacks the basket, gets to the basket, and makes free throws. His commitment to working out off the court will also help out our guys."

For the Warriors to continue to contend for the playoffs, it's a must that guard Monta Ellis and center Andris Biedrins, both 22-year-old restricted free agents, be re-signed. Ellis averaged 20.2 points per game last season, while Biedrins averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds.

"We'll get them back," said Mullin. [Ellis] and Biedrins will be back."

Speak up

"I'd try to trade him or buy him out at this point. I just think he needs a fresh start somewhere else. Marbury needs to be on a veteran team where he fits into what they're trying to do a little bit more."
- Celtics forward Paul Pierce, to the New York Daily News, on Knicks guard Stephon Marbury

By the numbers

Number of teams for which Celtics free agents James Posey and Eddie House have played

Etc.

Worth more than a hill of beans: Possibly the biggest surprise of the first round of the recent NBA draft was IUPUI guard George Hill being selected by the Spurs with the 26th pick. But if that didn't happen, could Hill have ended up a Celtic? Hill was projected by many as a second-round pick and wasn't even listed among the 123 prospects in the NBA's predraft media guide. But after Hill's introductory news conference in San Antonio, his agent, Michael Whitaker, said the Celtics had promised to select Hill with the 30th pick if he was available. With Hill off the board, Boston selected New Mexico guard J.R. Giddens with its first-round pick. Despite Whitaker's claims, an NBA source said the two players on Celtics general manager Danny Ainge's wish list with the 30th pick were Giddens and swingman Bill Walker. Walker was selected in the second round with the 47th pick by Washington before his rights were traded to Boston.

Off to see the Wizards: Ex-UMass star swingman Gary Forbes is playing for the Wizards' summer league team in Las Vegas after going undrafted. An NBA source said the Wizards like last season's Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year and it's possible he could make their team . . . Giddens, who remains unsigned, has been working out with Pacers guard Danny Granger in Los Angeles and playing pickup games at UCLA. Granger and Giddens both played at New Mexico and are good friends, but Granger was gone before the latter became a Lobo.

Back in LA after they beat LA: The majority of the Celtics, including Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and coach Doc Rivers are expected to be on hand for the taping of the ESPY Awards Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Celtics are up for best team, while Rivers is a finalist for best coach. The only Celtics not expected to be there are Tony Allen and Scot Pollard . . . While word did get out that they had interest in free agent forward Corey Maggette before he signed with Golden State, an NBA source said the Celtics also quietly showed strong interest in free agent forward James Jones before he signed with Miami . . . Even though the Hornets aren't playing in Oklahoma City anymore, All-Star guard Chris Paul is still very popular and recently hosted a sold-out basketball camp there. But now that the Sonics are expected to move to Oklahoma City in time for next season with a new name and colors, Paul plans on passing the camp over to Kevin Durant for next summer.

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com; material from personal interviews, wire services, other beat writers, and league and team sources was used in this report.