"The pace will be grueling, with four games a week. The need for high-quality support essential, with precious little in salary-cap assets to allocate. And health could mean everything, with Mike Miller already sidelined by hernia surgery.

So what does Juwan Howard think the Heat need this season?

A 38-year-old power forward who turns 39 in February.

Howard was back on the Heat practice court Friday, again the first player to arrive at AmericanAirlines Arena.

A free agent, he wants to be back for a second season alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh."