"When the Miami Heat open the season Dec. 25 on the road against the Dallas Mavericks, it will pit the Heat against defending NBA champions. Sort of.

To Heat guard Dwyane Wade the ongoing makeover in Dallas is a sign of changing championship times in the league.

Already gone from the Mavericks in free agency are center Tyson Chandler and forward Caron Butler, who was sidelined by a knee injury during last season's NBA Finals. Point guard J.J. Barea, a prime Heat finals nemesis, might be lost, as well. Added by Dallas during this post-lockout whirlwind is former Heat forward Lamar Odom.

"I think that's why nowadays winning one championship means so much, because you don't know if you're going to do it again," Wade said after the first of two Heat training-camp sessions Sunday at AmericanAirlines Arena."