Heat president and coach Pat Riley once said one of his few career regrets was not walking away from the bench two years ago after one of his best seasons as a coach.
Now, Riley appears more inclined to step down following one of his worst -- one, ironically, that featured the announcement of his Hall of Fame induction this fall.
For the third time in a week, Riley has hinted that the final games of the Heat's dismal season just might be his last as a coach. Riley, elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, said Wednesday that the induction ''might be something that puts a capper'' on his coaching career after 25 seasons.
Riley's latest comments came Wednesday during a series of prescheduled interviews with local sports-talk radio hosts. The Heat did not practice Wednesday, and Riley declined a request to discuss his future with The Miami Herald.
The Heat, which improved its league-worst record to 14-64 with Tuesday's 95-88 victory over the Bulls, has four games left. It needs two victories to avoid the worst finish in its 20-year history. But Miami also is one loss from clinching the worst record in the league and the top seed for the draft lottery.
Riley told WQAM (560) on Wednesday morning that he would ''make the decision quickly, right after the season,'' regarding his coaching future. He still has two seasons remaining on a contract that allows him to work as president and coach, or exclusively in his front-office role.
Heat owner Micky Arison has said he would support Riley's decision.
Even if he retires as coach, Riley is expected to run the team and guide it through a rebuilding process that could start with landing the first pick in the June 26 draft.
If Riley decides he is done coaching shortly after the season, the Heat could be in play for a handful of top coaching prospects. Mike Fratello, Scott Skiles and University of Florida coach Billy Donovan are among NBA and top college coaches closest to Riley.
Riley, 63, has said his successor would most likely come from his current staff, with assistant Erik Spoelstra being the most likely pick.
But Riley also had said before the season that he would coach the remaining years on his contract. He began to publicly hedge on that commitment as early as Jan. 9, when the Heat fell to 8-28 after a loss at Milwaukee.
'Don't ask me that question. At this time, it's like `Yes' or 'No,' '' Riley said before that game. ``There are hypotheticals in a season like this. You don't want to turn the knife too early on things. Let things work out.''
Not much has worked out for the Heat since then. Miami has had the league's worst record for three months, and it traded center Shaquille O'Neal in a bitter parting Feb. 6. It also has lost five key players, including Dwyane Wade, to season-ending injuries.
About the only bright spot for Riley has been the Hall of Fame process. He will be inducted as part of the six-member class in September.
Riley joked Tuesday that he didn't have many friends in coaching, but plenty respect his accomplishments. During a February interview with The Miami Herald, Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkins said Riley has earned the right to go out on his own terms.
Riley's 1,209 career victories rank third among NBA coaches, behind Wilkens and Don Nelson. He has led three franchises to the NBA Finals and has won five championships. He considered retirement after the Heat's title in 2006, but kept the roster intact and attempted to repeat. The Heat is 58-106 since the title run.
''He doesn't have anything else to prove because he's done it all as one of the brilliant minds in this game,'' Wilkens said.
Riley had refused to talk in depth about his immediate future. But when asked last Friday, before a loss at Washington,if he was committed to coaching next season, he said only, ``I'm committed to this team. We've got a lot of work to do, and I don't think that's an issue right now.''
But Riley began to soften on the subject after attending Monday's Hall of Fame announcement during the Final Four in San Antonio. He spoke about ''absolute freedom'' from the grind of nearly 40 years of playing and coaching basketball.
''When you come to a fork in the road, you take it,'' Riley said after Monday's news conference. ``I don't know what it's like. But I think shortly, I'll find out.''
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/490061.html
it kills me that SVG was forced out, he was the perfect person. I wouldn't be surprised if he brings in Fratello and keeps Spoelstra in the bullpen, if he feels Spoelstra isn't ready to run a crappy team. It could ruin Spoelstra's future, ala other former wunderkinds like Eric Musselman.
He could also go with a Skiles, who he must see a little of himself in, or even someone who played under him like Terry Porter.
:droop:
Famous 
