Riley hoping Shaq stays in Miami for long haul

MIAMI — Shaquille O'Neal is under contract to the Miami Heat for one more year. Not surprisingly, Heat president Pat Riley wants him around much longer.

Riley plans to build around O'Neal for several upcoming seasons and hopes the team can sign the 12-time All-Star to a deal allowing him to end his career in Miami.

O'Neal's contract situation — he can opt out of his existing deal and become a free agent this summer, although it's doubtful he'll leave Miami — is the biggest issue facing the Heat these days.

"We have agreed to agree to agree to move forward," Riley said Friday. "And it would be absolute insanity not to try to work out . . . a deal that's going to keep Shaquille O'Neal in Miami for the next four or five years."

Until the O'Neal matter is settled, the Heat likely won't make any significant personnel moves.

O'Neal — who's set to make $30.6 million for 2005-06 — averaged 22.9 points and 10.4 rebounds this season for Miami, which won 59 games and was the No. 1 seed for the East playoffs.

Riley said he and O'Neal's representatives, Perry Rogers and Mike Parris, have not discussed specific dollar amounts or other terms of what may be part of a new deal. But the basic parameters are clear.

"Shaquille's going to be the highest-paid player in this game," Riley said.

The acquisition of O'Neal last summer set the tone for Miami's finest season, one that brought the Heat closer than they'd ever been to the NBA Finals. And Riley said he doesn't see much need for tweaking.

Several key parts of this year's run, including guards Damon Jones and Keyon Dooling, starting power forward Udonis Haslem and backup center Alonzo Mourning, all face uncertain futures. Jones and Dooling could opt out of their contracts, Haslem may be lured by more money elsewhere and Mourning may simply retire.

But Riley said he's optimistic most of the core group will be back, a feeling echoed by guard Dwyane Wade, who averaged 24.1 points and 6.8 assists in his second NBA season.

"That's something that we want," Wade said Friday at a Heat charity event. "Having nine new guys this year and having the year we had was pretty special. For us to go in the direction we need to go in, I think having guys that (are) familiar with everything we're trying to do would help us."

Some changes will be made, something Riley referred to as "a natural progression."