Netter Artikel ueber Wright
BY BARRY JACKSON
Heat coach Pat Riley offered Dorell Wright an inspiring message in their meeting this week.
'He said, `Young fellow, I could just see the next 10 years, you and D-Wade . . . out there,' '' Wright said Friday.
Wright, who has played just 23 games in his first two NBA seasons, wants that vision of playing alongside his close friend, Dwyane Wade, to become reality this winter.
''I'm tired of sitting,'' he said after practicing with the other players on the Heat's summer-league team. ``I'm ready to play.''
Two years after being drafted out of South Kent (Conn.) Prep with the 19th pick, Wright, 20, is determined to improve his ball-handling and defense. Though his athletic ability and seven-foot wingspan are tantalizing, he knows he must be a more complete player to challenge for consistent minutes. He acknowledged it's going to be ''tough'' to crack the rotation.
''It's going to be a big summer for him,'' said assistant coach Erik Spoelstra, who is coaching the Heat's summer-league team. ''He's definitely going to have the ball in his hands quite a bit'' in five games in Orlando next week.
Spoelstra said Wright, 6-7, will play shooting guard and small forward and ''possibly a little bit'' at point guard next week.
''He's got some ball-handling skills,'' Spoelstra said. ``I don't know if he'll ever be a guy where he's just running offense for you. But he can take the ball off the glass and push it on the break and make plays.
``Occasionally, if somebody gets denied and he has to bring the ball up, he can definitely handle the ball in those situations. He can create off the dribble, and that's something that not a lot of guys on our roster other than Dwyane and Jason [Williams can do].''
With the Heat resting some of its regulars, Wright started the last two games of the regular season in April and averaged 19.5 points, 7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 29.5 minutes, and shot 57.1 percent from the field.
''It just showed I came a long way from the first day I was here,'' he said.
But Wright was inactive for the playoffs. Whenever anything bad happened in the postseason, he said to himself, ' `Man, I wish I was out there. I would have done this or that.' But we got it done anyway.''
Wright, who was 185 pounds when he was drafted and 197 last October, is now 214, with more muscle. ''I'm getting stronger,'' he said. ``I wanted to gain weight. Now I've got to get my body fat down. They've told me the right things to eat. No McDonald's, Burger King.''
During the NBA Finals, coaches told Wright to pay close attention to Dallas' Josh Howard: ``He defends, slashes, does all the little things. That's what I need to be doing. I want to be an all-around player.''
He also wants to stay healthy next week. Wright sustained a groin strain in the 2004 summer league and lost two teeth in last year's summer league.
Any regrets about not attending college? ''Man, I have a ring,'' he said. ``I don't care if I go to college. I'm happy. This is the best thing I ever did.''
The Heat this summer can extend Wright's contract through 2007-08. Otherwise, he would be an unrestricted free agent after next season. His agent, Calvin Andrews, said he's sure Wright will be offered the extension.
As Wright has waited patiently for his chance, Wade has provided encouragement.
''He is always keeping me with a level head,'' Wright said. The two teammates were exchanging text messages the other day. 'I made a comment to him, `D-Wade, I'm ready. It's my time right now.' '' He was like, 'I'm proud of you. I feel like a proud dad now.' ''