Sports briefs: 8-05-04

When the Miami Heat play the 76ers this season, South Philly’s own Rasual Butler could be in the starting lineup.

The 6-foot-7 forward recently re-signed a free-agent contract, the terms of which were undisclosed. The deal could launch Butler from the bench to a starting position alongside the Heat’s newest and biggest edition — 7-foot-1, 340-pound Shaquille O’Neal.

"I definitely know I have to earn it, but it’s my goal to get that starting spot," Butler, originally of 20th and Manton streets, said at Friday’s press conference in Miami.

"If the season was to start today, I would be the starting small forward, but it is a long way from the season. I have to put in a lot of work and give the coaches confidence to put me in the starting lineup."

The 25-year-old athlete, a graduate of Roman Catholic High and La Salle University, was selected in the second round of the 2002 NBA Draft. Butler appeared in 45 games last season for the Heat, averaging 6.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 15 minutes per game. His 46.3 three-point field goal percentage ranks second on the Heat’s single-season list. The player currently ranks eighth on the club’s all-time three-point field goal percentage list (.358).

Butler still is fourth on La Salle’s all-time scoring list with 2,125 points.

Over the last two seasons, the athlete has racked up 28 career starts, averaging 10.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 29.8 minutes per game.

Miami made it to the second round of the playoffs last season before getting knocked out by the Indiana Pacers. The team’s prospects are brighter with O’Neal in the lineup, but Butler admits the trade left him somewhat ambivalent. He said he will miss former teammates Caron Butler, Lamar Odom and Brian Grant, who all were sent to the Lakers.

"I lost three good friends of mine, but it opened up a lot of playing time for myself, so I have to be happy about that," Butler said. "I just have to put in a lot of hard work right now so I can take advantage of this opportunity. If I take advantage of it, I can pretty much get the ball moving."