Mike James Will Gladly Take Rafer Alston’s Job

If Skip doesn’t want to come off the bench — and he doesn’t, as he has made abundantly clear — the Sun-Sentinel reports that Mike James would be more than happy to do it for him: ” If Alston doesn’t return, the Heat could have need for a third point guard to backup starter Carlos Arroyo and reserve Mario Chalmers. But, coach Erik Spoelstra said, it would have to be right person. ‘We don’t want to bring in somebody that will be disruptive to the team cohesiveness right now, which has been a strong point,’ Spoelstra said. Former Heat guard Mike James, who last month had his contract bought out and was then released by the Washington Wizards, said he would like to re-join the Heat. James, who played 93 games for the Heat over two seasons, from 2001 to 2003, is at home in Houston working out and hoping to be signed. James, who would be eligible for the playoff roster, said he would especially love to be in a playoff race. ‘I want to get thrown in the fire, please,’ he said Monday. ‘Give me only three plays and if I don’t do anything from there, if that’s my only chance, I’ll take that. Let me run with that right there.’ For the short term, Spoelstra said the Heat plans on having Wade handle point guard duties when it goes to its big lineup with Dorell Wright at shooting guard. Wright missed the Atlanta game due to left knee issues, but he practiced Monday and is expected to play Tuesday.”