A 28-win improvement, mostly due to Dwyane Wade's health, which was a question not all that long ago. His return to prominence makes this a successful season in itself.

A rotation with two rookies and one very young second-year player who was in the Developmental League at the end of last season.

A midseason trade that added two new pieces.

A first-year head coach.

Now the Heat enters the offseason with some questions, and issues:

-- What to do with Michael Beasley? Fans have cast blame on one party or the other. That's wrong. The Heat now has a better idea?about his skill set and demeanor. He is an unusual talent and player, and not someone who is a natural fit for that culture. Beasley and the Heat need to meet halfway. He must grow up some. (It doesn't help that, with?the Heat down 22 in the third quarter, ABC's cameras catch him cracking up on the bench.) ?And the team must bend some. Mostly, it must get him ready to play some small forward, especially if Udonis Haslem isn't traded. If you can trade Haslem for a serviceable starting point guard, you do it, but you don't just give him away.

-- How does the team encourage Dwyane Wade, and keep him with the program??Wade looked very frustrated at times with his supporting cast. You'll be hearing more and more whispers about him leaving after next season, no matter what he says publicly. If LeBron James stays in Cleveland, which he likely will, Wade becomes the 2010 free agent prize. There's one way to upstage his buddy: go to New York. So the question becomes whether you fast-forward the rebuilding one year, and go after Chris Bosh, even if it costs you Beasley.

-- What are Mario Chalmers and Daequan Cook? Kudos to Chalmers for stepping in as a starter. He's an NBA player. But I don't believe he's an NBA starter on a contender. In a best-case scenario, he's an energy reserve, getting 20 minutes per night. Cook made great progress, but his confidence wavers too much. He wants to be Jason Terry, but he has a long way still to go.

-- What's Jamario Moon worth? I like him as energy reserve. I don't like him as a starter. With James Jones already signed, the Heat can't invest too much on small forwards who can't create, particularly if it wants to create minutes there for Beasley.

-- How much does Jermaine O'Neal have left? He's on the books for $23 million. He has talked a good game about getting into prime shape, with his knees feeling better. Now he has to walk the walk. (Make that run the run.)

Newstex ID: 34621407