When the NBA season kicks off on Tuesday night, the defending champion Miami Heat won't have center Joel Anthony. After sitting out for nearly a month, Anthony will not be healthy in time for the team's season opener against the Boston Celtics.

Anthony started 51 games for the Heat last year and without him, Chris Bosh figures to slide over to center in the starting lineup. The Heat are thin at Anthony's position, and Miami could use Udonis Haslem and Dexter Pittman as its man in the middle.

Never much of a scorer, Anthony averaged 3.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season. In his five-year career, he has never averaged more than 3.5 ppg.

When healthy, Anthony might not be with Heat too long this season. The 30-year old has had his name thrown around in trade rumors during the preseason.

The Heat and Celtics start their NBA season at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.