"This is an opportunity," says Pat Riley.

The Miami Heat had one of the toughest NBA seasons ever. They have started the rebuilding process after injuries decimated the team and a mid-February trade sent Shaquille O'Neal to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion.

But, as you know, Pat Riley and the Heat are smart. They are using every possible aspect of their current situation to help rebuild the roster. That includes their relationship with the D-League.

See this story which appeared in the Miami Herald on Tuesday:

Heat newcomers hoping to hang around

BY SARAH ROTHSCHILD
Another game, another chance for former NBA Development League players Kasib Powell, Blake Ahearn and Stephane Lasme to try to extend their stay with the Heat.

Miami signed Ahearn and Lasme to second 10-day contracts Monday before the team lost 105-85 to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. Powell's 10-day contract expired after the game. One of the three players likely will be gone by the home game against New Orleans on Wednesday, when the Heat must pare its roster by one player to 16.

The only way the Heat (13-61) could keep its roster at 17 players -- two more than the league maximum -- would be if the team received another roster exemption from the league.

Riley said he would like to eventually sign one of the former development league players beyond this season.

He gave the players under consideration a pep talk before Monday's game.

"Players like that have to feel like they belong," Riley said. "Players like that [sometimes] say, `I don't belong here, but I'm here, or somebody told me, I don't belong here and I'm here." If you're here, you belong.

"This is an opportunity for one or two of them to make a career for themselves."

It's a reality not lost on the threesome.

Lasme and Ahearn traveled with the team from Boston Sunday night, not knowing their fate until Monday morning at the Heat's walkthrough. Powell, who started and scored a career-high 15 points against the Pacers, wondered before the game whether he would be tendered another 10-day contract.

"I hope I have played well enough to deserve a second chance to stay around," Powell said. ``I want to be a part of this team not only for this year, but for next year. Next year it's going to be special with all the guys we have."

Ahearn had eight points against the Pacers, and Lasme, who said he felt ''happy'' to receive another 10-day contract, scored six points and grabbed seven rebounds Monday night. Lasme said he wants to remain in Miami long-term.

His plan?

"I kind of have an idea what they like about me, so I'm going to just use that and work harder and work on my weaknesses to get better.''

As Lasme assessed his performance, he noted how overwhelming it was playing against Boston's Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen at TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday.

"I was kind of mad a little bit at myself because I caught myself star-watching a little bit,'' Lasme said.

". . . Maybe as a rookie it's an excuse, but I can't be doing that."

Riley said he is encouraged by the play of the former development league players.

"It's hard for them because they don't have the best players, they're not playing with Dwyane [Wade] or Shawn [Marion],'' Riley said after the loss to Indiana.

Pacers guard Danny Granger spoke after the game about how strange it was facing the makeshift Heat lineup, observing it featured ``a few guys I had never heard of.''

The Heat's situation has forced Heat executives to have a crash course on applying for roster exemptions.

Andy Elisburg, the team's senior vice president of basketball operations, said the Heat is in an unusual situation -- one he never experienced in his 20 years in the NBA.

The Heat qualified for what is classified as ''hardship'' because it had four players out for the season (Wade, Dorell Wright, Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem), and Marcus Banks (hamstring) was out for at least another two weeks.

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