By the time the Miami Heat sent Daequan Cook down to the Developmental League, he was ready to embrace it. He had played two minutes in the Heat's previous eight games.

His stint — three games for the Iowa Energy for games in Albuquerque, N.M., Anaheim and Los Angeles from March 2-7 — had the desired effect.

"I went a few games where I was in a big slump," said Cook, a former Dunbar High School and Ohio State guard who scored 58 points for the Energy. "That was one of the reasons Coach (Pat Riley) had me go down to the D-League for a few games."

Cook's representatives said the Heat have said privately they'll pick up the option for Daequan Cook's third year. Cook hopes not to have another D-League trip, but he learned from it.

"Talent-wise, it's not as good as the NBA, but you've still got some good players down there," Cook said. "They've got the ability to play on the next level. I just went down there and played aggressive. It was all about me getting my confidence back."

Q Do you, Mike Conley Jr. and Greg Oden think about what it would have been like if you had returned to Ohio State?

A We always think about that. We always think, 'Was this the right decision we made?' ... The team this year with who we had last year plus (the new guys), it would be a great season for us — more than likely a national championship. We'd still be playing. But you can't go back. We made the decision we made.

Q What about Shaquille O'Neal being dealt?

A It's the NBA. Anybody can get traded. (But) it was crazy. He was there one day and gone the next. ... I looked up to Shaq. When people came around or family came around and came in from Dayton, Shaq always pointed it out that I was his little brother. He always said, 'This is my little brother. Don't do anything to him.' To this day, we still keep in touch. He still calls just to say he's seen me playing or just to say hey. I was real close with him.

Q What about Shaq ripping the Heat for not being a team?

A That's his opinion. Everybody feels differently about stuff. Evidently, he was upset about the situation, I guess. I don't really get into that. That's not my place to do that. My place is just to keep playing and getting better and making a career for myself.

Q From your 'big brother' to someone who looks like he could be your big brother, what is Shawn Marion like?

A He always says he looks better than me. ...He's a great player, a great person outside of basketball. ... He's one of the players also who are emphasizing, 'Don't slack or be like any of the other players who are slacking during the game. This is the time for you to get better.' He emphasizes that a lot for me, knowing that he had it rough for a little while, but this is part of the NBA.

Q Next year, the Heat could be a much different organization. What is your approach to the end of the season?

A I'm trying to build right now. I want to be in the rotation next year. It starts now. Even though the record is not as good as we want it to be, it's just about producing and doing the things I'm capable of doing to show Coach that he's got to put me in next year.

Q What do you do away from basketball?

A I just enjoy myself by hanging out, chill at home or go to a movie. In Miami, there's a lot to do, but by me being underage (Cook turns 21 on April 28), that also slows me down a little bit.

Q What are your summer plans?

A I'll be home for two or three weeks, then I'm supposed to go to London for about two weeks (and then) to Paris for a couple weeks. I've never been. I'm going to take in all the sights, have a good time, enjoy myself. I need a vacation. It's a long season. This summer, me, Mike and Greg are supposed to go back to Ohio State and take summer classes. That's the plan. We always talked about how we wanted to go back.

 

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