"Eddy Curry's predicament is clear: If he loses at least 40 more pounds during the lockout, then the Heat likely will have renewed and genuine interest because Pat Riley remains highly intrigued by the 7-foot center. The question is whether he has the discipline to achieve that mighty challenge.

Curry, 28, reportedly topped 350 pounds during his late March workout for the Heat. He lost a lot more weight — in excess of 20 pounds — between that point and late June, when he auditioned again for the Heat over several days.

But he entered the lockout still at least 40 pounds overweight, according to a league official briefed on the situation. "You watch him shoot and he's got great touch, good hands," said a player source who was invited to Curry's multiplayer Heat workouts in late June. "He's very skilled. But it's a question of whether he gets more serious. He's got a long way to go."

The Heat has strong interest in Samuel Dalembert, a better rebounder and defender than Curry, but Miami will be in the mix for Dalembert only if there's a mid-level exception in the new labor deal. Regardless, the Heat again will check on Curry after the lockout, then decide whether to offer him a minimum-salary deal.

Curry, drafted fourth overall in 2001, averaged 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Knicks in 2006-07 but played in just 10 games over the past three years because of injuries. He was out of the league last season.

Other than Nene and Tyson Chandler (who will be unaffordable to the Heat), "Dalembert is the only guy on that [unrestricted] free agent center list who would be a starter for them," TNT's Steve Kerr said off air. Some might say Kwame Brown, too.

According to a league official, one of the two Heat-Mavericks games is being planned for Christmas in Dallas, likely at 2:30 p.m. The schedule will be announced shortly, though labor problems could shorten the season. With Christmas on a Sunday, most NFL games will be Dec. 24 (including Dolphins at Patriots) except Bears-Packers on Christmas night.

Regardless of whether James Jones re-signs (and there's mutual interest), we hear forward Shane Battier will be very much on the Heat's radar after the lockout. The Houston Chronicle, after interviewing Battier, said "don't be surprised" if he signs with the Heat or Bulls.

The Heat long has admired Battier and fellow free agents Tayshaun Prince and Grant Hill, but the question is if any will take less money to sign here. Hill told The Arizona Republic "it would be nice" to re-sign with Phoenix. Detroit wants to keep Prince."