By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer


Antoine Walker's turbulent time with the Miami Heat is over. The Heat traded the three-time All-Star forward to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday in a five-player deal that came one day after Miami completed a winless preseason.

Walker, backup center Michael Doleac, oft-injured forward Wayne Simien and a conditional first-round draft pick were sent to Minnesota for former Miami swingman Ricky Davis and center Mark Blount.

The deal gives Miami the third scoring option it wanted in Davis. The Heat will try to fit him in alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade _ the 2006 finals MVP who'll miss a few more weeks while recovering from knee and shoulder surgeries.

Walker helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title but hasn't always had the easiest time dealing with Heat coach Pat Riley's strict conditioning standards. He was briefly suspended last year because his body-fat measurement wasn't within team limits, and he came to training camp this month not in the shape Riley wanted.

"It's always difficult to get traded," said Mark Bartelstein, Walker's agent. "It's well-documented there were issues between Pat and Antoine that were out there hanging over everyone's head."

Walker did not play in Miami's final two preseason games. Riley said he kept him out of Tuesday's exhibition finale because, "I know what he can do."

So he'll do it for Minnesota now _ or, perhaps, someone else.



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I didn't know that Antoine Walker was having problems "adapting" down in Miami. Damn. Now he's going to be in cold ass Minnesota barely winning. That team doesn't have ANYBODY, so they'll be lucky if they win 20 games this upcoming season. Pat Riley did the right thing though. Ship those "problem" children elsewhere. I'm sure it doesn't matter to Antoine either way. He got his ring.