By Ira Winderman

The Heat has reached an agreement in principle with free-agent power forward
Christian Laettner.

Unsettled in its power rotation after trading Lamar Odom and Brian Grant, as
well as Caron Butler, to the Lakers in July for Shaquille O'Neal, the Heat
will be adding a 35-year-old known more for passing and shooting than physical
inside play. Shuffled to the end of the Wizards' rotation at the end of
last season after he was suspended five games for a violation of the league's
substance-abuse policy, the former Duke standout and Olympian twice found
himself as trade fodder this summer.

He first was part of the deal with Dallas that delivered Antawn Jamison to
Washington and then was in the trade with the Warriors that landed Erick
Dampier with the Mavericks.

With the Heat having split its $4.9 million midlevel salary-cap exception
between center Michael Doleac and guard Damon Jones, and with the team having
used its $1.6 million exception on swingman Wesley Person, it was limited to
the $1.1 million veteran's minimum for Laettner.

A former All-star, Laettner is due $6.2 million this season from the
Warriors, who waived him last week. Limited somewhat by back pain, he is still
viewed as a solid 20-minute contributor.

The arrival of Laettner, who is expected to sign this week, leaves coach
Stan Van Gundy with a deep power rotation but also with one that does not
include a proven post defender to take some of the inside burden off O'Neal.

Besides O'Neal, Laettner and Doleac, the Heat's power rotation also includes
center Wang Zhi-Zhi, Udonis Haslem, a part-time starter last season at power
forward, as well as Malik Allen, the team's 2002-03 starter at power forward.

Factoring in the ability of 6-foot-10 second-round pick Matt Freije to play
as an outside-shooting power forward, it likely means 2003 second-round pick
Jerome Beasley will have to display a significant perimeter upgrade to remain
on the roster.

MIRALLES GONE:
The power rotation has been thinned by the decision of the Heat's other 2004
second-round acquisition, Spanish center Albert Miralles, to spend the
season in Italy.

Miralles, acquired in a draft-night trade, has signed for one season with
Vertical Vision Cantu of the Italian A1 league. He spent last season with
Roseto Basket of the same league.

Because the physical 6-11 center elected to bypass training camp, he remains
the property of the Heat, possibly to again participate in the team's summer
program next year.


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