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Heat president Pat Riley: 'No more smiling faces with hidden agendas'

Heat president Pat Riley on Monday addressed his team's NBA draft approach after last season.
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Miami Heat president Pat Riley addressed his team's NBA draft approach on Monday.

"No more smiling faces with hidden agendas, so we'll be going in clean," Riley said. He added, "That could be anyone across the board."

One interpretation of Riley's first comment is that he is alluding to LeBron James. James played four seasons with the Heat before exercising the early termination option of his contract last June and becoming a free agent.

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In last summer's draft, the Heat used their first-round pick on former UConn point guard Shabazz Napier. James had made clear his opinion on Napier during the Huskies' championship run, tweeting in April that there is "No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier."

After Miami acquired Napier in a draft-night trade, James tweeted the following. "My favorite player in the draft! #Napier."

In July, the four-time MVP later opted to leave Miami and join the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he spent the first seven seasons of his career.

On Monday, Riley was asked about James' departure. "Yes, I'm at peace with it," Riley said.