MIAMI - After winning his fifth NBA title as a head coach, Pat Riley spent the next two months keeping most of the Miami Heat organization guessing about his next move.

Turns out, there was no reason for their angst.

Riley revealed Tuesday that the decision to return was easy, saying he quickly realized the defending NBA champions would be best-served with him on the sideline.

He didn’t make the decision publicly known until Aug. 23, exactly two months after the Heat held their celebratory championship parade through downtown Miami.

“It was a no-brainer,” Riley said in his bay-view office, as many Heat players participated in a voluntary pre-camp workout a few feet away. “After we won the title, the more I thought about it, I probably just should have made the announcement. And it has to do with this team and this time, what I think they need, and what they expect from me and from this organization.”

So, it’s back-to-work time for Riley and his team.

A 3-inch-thick playbook sat on the table, awaiting another editing session, while a staffer designed more plays on a computer outside the office. Talks with free agents are continuing, training camp starts next week, the first preseason game is two weeks away, and the regular season opens Oct. 31.

Heat guard Dwyane Wade, the MVP of the finals against Dallas, said he never doubted Riley would return.

“When you’ve got everybody on your team coming back ... to try to repeat, on a team you hand-picked, let’s go do it again. Let’s go give it another try,” Wade said. “He’s the only person that can coach this team right now. I wasn’t worried. I knew he would come back. Well, I didn’t know it, but I was very confident.”

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The Heat will bring back most of last season’s championship team; only reserve Derek Anderson has had ties severed with the organization. Free-agent forward Shandon Anderson is still in talks and could return, but no contract is in place yet.

In other team-related issues:

• The Heat is still talking with free-agent guard Bonzi Wells, but the organization is holding firm on its plan to never go over the luxury tax threshold.

“It’s really up to him,” Riley said.

Wells averaged 13.6 points last season for Sacramento, and 23.2 points in the Kings’ six playoff games.

• Point guard Jason Williams’ recovery from offseason knee surgery is progressing, but the team isn’t certain about his availability for the start of the regular season. He’ll certainly miss at least some of training camp, so Riley reiterated that the team may still seek free-agent help at the point.
• Former head coach Stan Van Gundy will continue his behind-the-scenes role with the Heat. Riley said Van Gundy, who resigned as coach last December, will watch tapes and send in occasional reports, just as he did during last season’s playoff run.

“He does not want an active participatory role,” Riley said. “That’s where he is right now. As long as I get his brain, that is OK with me.”

• Lastly, Riley, who put off hip-replacement surgery last season when Van Gundy stepped aside while citing family reasons, still hasn’t had the operation performed and doesn’t have it scheduled. Riley said he’s getting plenty of mail about how to handle the hip problem, including one package where someone sent him an artificial hip and explained how it works.

But for now, he’s trying an exercise regimen instead.

“It’s not intolerable,” Riley said.