IN THE LANE

CHANGING TIMES: As he again mulls his own Miami Heat future, Dwyane Wade said last week he has no issues with players seeking out new vistas in the NBA, be it Kawhi Leonard going from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto Raptors or players moving on in free agency. “You don’t know what happened with anyone inside,” he said. “It’s just like anything else. Certain guys in college, they transfer to another school because the opportunity wasn’t there for them. I mean, I left my parents’ house at 16. There’s so many different reasons that people want out of something. They want a change. They want something different. That’s life. That doesn’t just have to be at the NBA level. Until you know exactly what that reason is, you can’t really speak on it.” ENDURANCE TEST: When LeBron James left the Heat for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 free agency, his open letter mentioned, “I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.” By James’ final season in Cleveland, only Thompson remained. So no matter what might have been said about playing alongside Lonzo Ball with the Los Angeles Lakers, appreciate that LeBron’s rosters evolve, largely at LeBron’s whim. Then consider that during an appearance on Los Angeles’ Power 106, LaVar Ball disputed the notion of the Lakers now being LeBron’s team. “How is it going to be LeBron’s team? He ain’t homegrown,” LaVar Ball said. “You say what you want, but we know what it is . ... Lonzo didn’t go to Cleveland; LeBron came over here. We already over here. He can’t learn nothing from Lonzo, and Lonzo can’t learn nothing from him. What they got to do is win together. They both know how to win, so that’s the main thing.” Then recall that Waiters lasted all of 33 games alongside James in Cleveland before he was dealt on Jan. 5, 2015.

OVER THERE: Often overlooked during free agency are the familiar faces who wind up settling for the security of a contract overseas. This offseason, in addition to Jordan Mickey moving on from his lone season with the Heat to a deal in Russia, former Heat guard Norris Cole has moved on from Israel to a deal in Italy, former Heat guard Toney Douglas has signed to play in Turkey, former Heat camp prospect Erik McCree has signed to play in Italy and former University of Miami guard Shane Larkin has signed to play in Turkey. BACK AT IT: Having missed the past season and a half with a knee injury, Pine Crest product Brandon Knight said he remains optimistic about his return to the Phoenix Suns. “I’ve been excited since December, when I started running. I’m looking forward to it. I’m very excited about it,” Knight, 26, told the Suns’ website. Knight said spending last season with the team allowed him to study how to fit in with teammates such as Devin Booker, T.J. Warren and Josh Jackson. “I already know how I can help and how I can play with them. I know their strengths and weaknesses just from watching them all season. Hopefully it will be quick building chemistry with them once I get back in, once I get back playing.”