MIAMI -- Unlike the vast majority of NBA players, Dorell Wright is still growing.

He was 6-foot-7 when the Miami Heat drafted him out of Connecticut's South Kent Prep in 2004, and didn't grow much during his first two seasons as a little-used reserve.

Yet this past summer, the 20-year-old Wright got noticeably taller, reporting for camp at nearly 6-9.

"I'm not done," Wright said. "I think I should be 6-foot-10 by the time I'm done."

When the defending NBA champions open their preseason schedule Tuesday in San Juan against the Detroit Pistons, Wright is hoping he'll get a chance to show that his game has grown, too.

The Heat didn't practice Sunday, taking the day instead to travel to Puerto Rico, where they'll practice Monday. Miami coach Pat Riley has indicated that many of the Heat's regulars -- including Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade -- won't log major minutes during the preseason, meaning there will likely be ample opportunity for younger players like Wright to make their mark.

"I'm ready. I've been going the whole summertime," Wright said. "I play basketball year-round. It's going to be hard, but I'm grinding and grinding and grinding. I'm patiently waiting. I waited my two years. Now I think it's my turn to get a chance and show everybody that I can help my team defend the title."

Wright is the only player the Heat has ever drafted straight out of high school, and he's shown flashes of great potential in limited -- extremely limited -- opportunities over his first two seasons.

He averaged 13 points in the two preseason games when he got substantial playing time last season, then started the final two games of the regular season while Riley rested many regulars. In those road matchups against Atlanta and Boston, Wright made 12 of 21 shots, 12 of 14 free throws and averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds while alternating between playing small forward and point guard.

The key to Wright's future development, Riley said, is easy to identify.

"It's going to take time on the court. I'm going to have to give it to him," Riley said. "That's going to be the first step, is that somewhere you've just to throw the kid out in the fire for 20, 30, 40 games and live with the good and live with the bad. I haven't made that commitment yet."

Virtually every member of last season's rotation is back this season, meaning Wright -- who made 18 appearances in mop-up duty last season before getting the two late starts -- will have a difficult time finding minutes.

But he's got at least one Heat regular rooting for him.

"I think he's improved a lot," said Wade, the MVP of last season's NBA finals. "I think he'll get a chance. I think he's deserves a chance and I think a lot of our younger guys can help us."

Obviously, Wright would agree with those sentiments.

"I'm getting smarter out there. Not only for myself, I'm making plays for my team," Wright said. "And my defense has gotten a whole lot better. But I'm not satisfied. I'll keep working."