Eastern conference.(NBA PREVIEW)

POWER POLL RANKING

1 Miami HEAT

What happened: It doesn't get any bigger than the biggest trade in NBA history, the five-team. 13-player deal that delivered PF Antoine Walker, SF James Posey, PG Jason Williams and SG Andre Emmett to the Heat at the relatively low cost of Rasual Butler Eddie Jones. Qyntel Woods and two second-round picks. The goal. Heat president Pat Riley says. was to lessen the team's dependence on C Shaquille O'Neal and SG Dwyane Wade.

What's next: Despite all the Heat accomplished last season, it too often was unable to maneuver out of difficult situations. such as those costly final 2 minutes of the Eastern Conference finals. Riley believes Williams and Walker will provide the needed versatility when Wade runs out of theatrics and O'Neal is dragging. There also is hope Posey can deliver the perimeter defense Jones produced last season. Coach Stan Van Gundy hopes to help the team create additional transition opportunities, which will play to the strengths of Walker, Williams and Wade. Backup PG Gary Payton should be a defensive upgrade. Van Gundy scoffs at the notion of too much talent and not enough shots to go around: however, he recognizes the need to keep egos in check, especially with some career starters likely to be backups.--Ira Winaerman

LOCKER ROOM LOWDOWN: Dwyane Wade

Most talkative teammate: "Gary (Payton) doesn't do the weight thing. I was just throwing shots at Gary about not lifting weights, and he threw shots back at me about the male model thing, which shows that we can have fun and laugh together and that guys want things to work. We're not scared to say things. We are going to be together for six. seven or eight months. So we better get to know each other well."

PROJECTED LINEUP