There were many who wanted Juan Mendez to be the first Canadian ever drafted by the Toronto Raptors, however, it was widely known that the forward from Niagara might not have the full skill-set to compete in the league.  This did not stop the Raptors from making Mendez an offer to play in their summer league to which Mendez declined, opting to play for the Miami Heat.

Mendez's agent, Merle Scott, told The Associated Press. "We appreciate their interest and consideration," Scott said, referring to the Raptors. "But Juan's going to accept the Miami Heat invitation."

Miami Heat general manager is happy to have Mendez on the summer squad.

"If we got him, that's great," Pfund said. "That kid can play basketball. If he doesn't make it in this league, he'll make a whole lot of money playing in Europe or someplace else."

Miami Heat starting point guard Damon Jones chose not to exercise the one-year option on his contract making him a free agent.

Jones, the Heat's starting point guard this past season, had until midnight Thursday to invoke a $2.75 million option for 2005-06.

Jones, the only Miami player to appear in all 97 games, including playoffs, averaged 11.6 points and connected on 225 of 521 attempts from 3-point range during the regular season and had the fourth best assist-to-turnover ratio in the league at 3.57-1.

The Miami Heat announced that the club has picked up the team option on Qyntel Woods for the 2005-06 season.

Woods, who just completed his third NBA season, has averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 8.9 minutes per game over the course of his career. He has also shot 41.1 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from three-point range and 56.3 percent from the foul line.

Woods was signed as a free agent by the HEAT on January 26, 2005. In three games with the team last season, he averaged 3.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.33 steals in 13.3 minutes per game.

A 6?8?, 221-pound forward, Woods was drafted by the Trail Blazers with the 21st pick in the 2002 NBA Draft. Prior to that, he spent two years at Moberly Area Junior College in Missouri before transferring to Northeast Mississippi Community College where he averaged 32.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in 23 games.

Shaquille O?Neal is now the proud graduate of the prestigious University of Phoenix after completing course work at the West Los Angeles campus.

''It's just something to have on my r?sum? [for] when I go back into reality,'' the 7-1 Miami Heat center said in an interview before picking up his master's in business administration. ``Someday I might have to put down a basketball and have a regular 9-to-5 like everybody else.''

There has been much speculation that the New York Knicks will buy oft-injured shooting guard Allan Houston out of his lofty contract exercising the one-time only provision in the new CBA.  However, according to Houston?s agent, William Strickland, has said the sharpshooter has no intention of retiring.

"Given that amnesty provision, it increases the chances that something could happen," Strickland said over the telephone. "But I do not believe that Allan will retire. He's worked too hard to get back. He still wants to play."

Houston will have to prove himself healthy and if he is successful, he could be a good fit for any team in need of a shooting guard off the bench.

Alonzo Mourning is not happy being a reserve for the Miami Heat and if he isn?t promised more time, especially in the closing moments of crucial games next season he may retire.

"I just don't want to go through a whole year again and get into that situation where we were in Game 7 and not be on the court and helping out," said Mourning, who was hosting an event Wednesday to promote the ninth annual Zo's Summer Groove, which will be July 14-17. "I worked my butt off to try to be a part of something special and try to make a difference in the outcome of something. I felt helpless just sitting on the sideline and not being able to do anything. That's just the competitor in me."

The Heat picked up its option on Mourning?s contract for $1.1 million recently, but may not have to pay it if Mourning does not get his way.

Pat Riley of the Miami Heat has been in the media lately with the topic usually pertaining to Shaq or Riley getting back into coaching again.

In a conference call with reporters, asked if he missed coaching, Riley answered: "I've missed it at times. There were moments in the playoffs when I'd sit over there -- I'm so close to the action, I don't care who you are or what profession you're in -- when the competition gets at its very best, at its highest, you want to jump back in the fray. But after the game I usually get back to my senses.

"I'm never going to rule it out. I think over the last couple of years, Stan has done a great [job] ... I may take a little bit more of an active participation in some of the things. But I think, for the most part, I'm content with what I'm doing."

Miami will look to sign a quality free agent power forward to join its rotation (such as Donyell Marshall or Othella Harrington).

Miami also has interest in Minnesota free agent PF Mark Madsen as a cheap backcourt player, who won't demand many minutes.

After not having his option picked up by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Robert Traylor is considering heading to Miami.

"It's definitely on my list of teams," he said. "We're going to contact them when the time comes."

Traylor, a 6-foot-8, 284-pound wide-body forward, played in 74 games last season, his seventh, and averaged 5.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game.

Traylor's career averages are 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per game.

Traylor probably was Cleveland's most reliable bench player during the season and could be a low-priced option as a backup power forward.

Teams can't negotiate with players until July 1, but considering a lockout would go into effect on that date, Traylor might have to wait longer to initiate talks with the Heat.

Traylor earned $1.76 million last season. Traylor said the Cavaliers told him he was released because they wanted more salary cap space.

"Sometimes business is business," he said. "It's a dirty game, but it is what it is."

It's not known if the Heat would want to give Traylor a raise by asking him to spilt the mid-level exception, which was $5.1 million last season, but Traylor said, "That'd be great."

Either way, Traylor will be in South Florida.

"I'm looking for a place down there," he said.

Miami power forward Udonis Haslem is a restricted free agent who is not a lock to return.

The Heat can sign Haslem to a contract starting at the average NBA salary (approximately $5.5 million). But if a team with salary-cap space offers Haslem anything more than that, the Heat won't be able to match it.

The Cavaliers and Hawks are expected to pursue Haslem, and they both have ample salary-cap space.

''The market will tell us what he's going to do, once free agency starts and the bidding starts,'' Riley said. ``We love Udonis. He's a great player, he's got a great character, he's a very intelligent basketball player, he's got super hands. He's a little bit undersized, but I don't buy that. He did a great job for us the last two years, and he should be rewarded.''

Damon Jones, who started all but 16 games at point guard this season, also has an option in his contract that would make him a free agent. Should he opt out, the Heat would have to cut into its mid-level exception to re-sign him.