Pat Riley wants Heat younger, faster

Miami Heat president Pat Riley wants his team to get younger.

During a Friday conference call with the media, Riley said that the Heat's draft selection of speedy point guard Norris Cole is part of the organization's offseason strategy to get younger and faster heading into next season.

"There's going to be two roster spots left, maybe three, that we want to save to make sure that when free agency comes, that we have an opportunity to fill them with young, energetic, veteran players," Riley said.

With Cole, the Heat have nine players under contract for next season including LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Mike Miller, Joel Anthony, Dexter Pittman, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who officially opted in for 2011-12 on Wednesday.

As part of his two-year deal with the Heat, signed in the summer of 2010, Ilguaskas, 36, held a player's option for 2011-12.

As part of the effort to restock with younger players, Riley indicated that he is holding a three-day workout "this week" involving 15 players, including free agents.

"We're trying to get something in early," Riley said. "We're just trying to get in under the gun here and take a look at some players."

Riley also said that he expects Eddie House, 33, and James Jones, 30, to opt in for the 2011-12 season with the Heat.

Mario Chalmers can leave as a restricted free agent, but Riley included Chalmers in his outlook for next season, although the Heat still need to re-sign the third-year veteran once he hits the open market. The Heat have already extended a qualifying offer to Chalmers, which enables the club the right to match any offer from other teams in free agency.