Riley in planning mode for next season.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

MIAMI _ In the wake of Sunday's season-ending loss to the Knicks, Heat coach Pat Riley on Tuesday said he wants to re-sign point guard Tim Hardaway and expressed reluctance to make wholesale roster changes, but he did not rule out trading one or more members of the team's nucleus.

"We will definitely try to improve in some areas that we need help," Riley said after meeting with his players for about 40 minutes at AmericanAirlines Arena. "We have to get to another level, and probably the next level we get to is going to have to be with additional talent some way. . . . I'm going to give it great thought, take about a month to analyze everything and start making decisions.

"We have a great, great, great core, and you don't want to mess with that because you can go back to ground zero quick. . . . But we need to get more athletic and we will address that. There will be many opportunities this summer to explore taking us up to a higher level. We will explore to the deepest part of our soul.

"We got beat, so maybe we're not good enough. Obviously, we weren't good enough to beat that team. I don't know what it would be like playing anybody else."

Riley accepted blame: "If there's anybody who has failed, I've failed. I've known we've had faults, and I have tried to make the players better. As the coach, I have failed in correcting those faults.

"Of all the teams I have been a part of, this is the best experience with a group of guys that I have ever had. But we still came up short. We have to push on. My strength is more than it has ever been, born out of this, even though it has been a negative time. I was right about this team. It's not stubborn loyalty or a love for a great group of guys."

Riley ruled out a complete overhaul. "The next time this team is stripped down and rebuilt, I won't be coaching it."