MIAMI — His team has been gutted this summer, with two starters going elsewhere, several new faces joining the organization and more moves certain in the coming weeks.

Shaquille O'Neal, though, isn't the slightest bit worried about his Miami Heat — and reiterated yesterday that his team will be a championship contender this season.

"A lot of people are probably worried that we're starting over. ... It won't be a problem at all," said O'Neal, whose Heat lost to Detroit in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals last season. "Everybody's going to be on the same page. We've got to get farther than we did last year, and we will."

With starting point guard Damon Jones gone to Cleveland, the Heat needs backcourt depth. O'Neal is interested in bringing in free-agent point guard Gary Payton, 37, the longtime Sonics star who played last season in Boston.

Payton, a nine-time All-Star, joined O'Neal in Los Angeles two years ago to chase his first NBA title. The Lakers missed by losing to Detroit in the 2004 Finals.

"We would love to have Gary down here," O'Neal said. "Gary's 36, 37 years old, but he's still tenacious on defense and I know he still wants one [title]. And I'm the only guy in the world that can get him one."

Miami had point guard Jay Williams in for a workout Friday.

Jason Williams, acquired from Memphis in the blockbuster trade that resulted in swingman Eddie Jones' departure, will likely be the starter at point guard. Forward Antoine Walker is another offseason addition.

Note

• Veteran free-agent F Alan Henderson is still expected to sign a one-year, $1.13 million contract with Cleveland soon despite facing gun charges. He is scheduled to make a court appearance tomorrow in New York stemming from a July arrest when he brought a gun to the airport. Henderson, 32, was transporting the 9 mm pistol but didn't have the proper paperwork. The charges are expected to be reduced or dropped.