The draft is over, the smoke has cleared, and Miami has two new players on the roster. Michael Beasley, a PF from Kansas State, was selected with the 2nd pick in the draft, and, after a couple trades, we also added Mario Chalmers, PG and folk-hero from Kansas. So, to get to know them a little better, I've checked stats, highlight tapes, and various web-site sources to give a complete breakdown of what each player can and can't do. First up, Michael Beasley.
Beasley was, in my opinion, the best prospect in this draft class. I'm sure everybody knows the two big numbers Beasley put up in college, 26 pts and 12 rebs a game. But his other numbers are just as impressive. First of all, he is much better on defense than people give him credit for, averaging almost 2 blocks per game, and only 2.6 fouls. His shooting percentage was very high for a guy scoring so much; he shot 53% from the field, 38% from 3pt range. He's also a good FT shooter, hitting on 78% in his one year of college. His assists numbers weren't very good, at only 1 a game, but he was the guy finishing plays, not starting them. He is a high-volume scorer and rebounder, without being a high-volume shooter. In fact, there was only 5 games in which he shot 22 times or more, and he scored more than 33 all 5 times. He made 14-22, scoring 40 pts against Winston Salem. He put up 12-22 and 40 pts against Mizzou. He scored 44 pts on 14-25 shooting in a loss vs Baylor. In back-to-back games, he scored 39 on 11-23, and 33 on 12-22. In every one of those games, the high number of shots didn't bring his shooting% down at all. Beasley shot 50+% in all of those games. He will be a perfect fit with Wade, because he can put points on the board without having to shoot every time down the floor.
I've hit up RealGM.com, one of the best sites going, for an in-depth breakdown of his skills, and they didn't disappoint. You can read the entire acticle here. http://www.realgm.com/src_fromtherafters/170/20080605/draft_report_michael_beasley_of_k_state/
Some highlights in the article:
"In the triple threat position, there is nothing he can’t do, and Beasley (a very self-assured young man when I spoke to him) knows this fact exceedingly well."
"But unlike certain remorseless prolific scorers, Beasley doesn’t excessively force things."
"Very explosive in the post, Beasley is NBA-ready to bang and score. He scores at a tremendously effective rate despite the constant collapse of double-teams when he touches the ball."
"Beasley is excellent at finding the vulnerabilities of a defense when he moves without the ball. Even more remarkable is how he always has his hands facing the ball, readying for a pass."
"By being so long to the ball despite being a little short for a power forward, he will always be an above average rebounder"
"Defensively, he is more motor and athletic talent than technique. He can block/affect shots quite easily, but he sometimes is mentally lackadaisical..."
The article finishes up comparing Beasley to Rasheed Wallace offensively, but a better scorer because he has the ability to score off the dribble. There is really nothing Beasley can't do on a basketball court, and he will be an all-star caliber forward in the very near future. To finish up, here's a highlight video that really shows all of Beasley's skills, offensively and defensively.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
Heat Still Dealing, Trade Darnell Jackson
I woke up this morning to find out that Miami has dealt their second round pick, Darnell Jackson from Kansas, to Cleveland for one of their 2 second rounders in the 2009 draft. That didn't take long. My guess here is that after dealing 2 of our '09 second rounders to get Chalmers, the FO decided to get one of those back. Obviously there's no way to say whether this is a good deal or not, but it does give us some options going into next offseason. Basically, we gave up a late second round this year, and a second next year to jump up to 34 and get Mario Chalmers, the perfect PG for this type of team. He's Derek Fisher lite, and putting him on the court with Wade, Beasley, and Marion (who I think will be traded) will be great for him. He will be asked to play D and shoot 3's, his two strengths.
So the Darnell Jackson era is over. It lasted a couple hours. But I still say we won on draft day, Beasley and Chalmers is a nice 1st rd/2nd rd combo. I'll try to keep track of any big news story throughout the day, but most likely I'll be back tonight with a recap of today's moves.
So the Darnell Jackson era is over. It lasted a couple hours. But I still say we won on draft day, Beasley and Chalmers is a nice 1st rd/2nd rd combo. I'll try to keep track of any big news story throughout the day, but most likely I'll be back tonight with a recap of today's moves.
NBA Draft: Heat Get Beasley
Well, the waiting is over. The drama ended soon after Chicago made Derrick Rose the top pick in the Draft. Miami bypassed any type of trade or twist, taking Michael Beasley at number 2, and disappearing for a couple hours. I couldn't be happier right now. We just added the best college prospect of the last decade to a team with one of the top 5 (when healthy) players in the league. Beasley is a certifiable stud, and we will get to watch him become that cornerstone-type player in Miami for the foreseeable future. Coach Spoelstra can plug him in at the 3 or 4 right away and not have any worries. Double-Double from the get-go, focus of the inside offense, the second superstar you need to win that NBA Title.
Basically, all the trade talks and garbage about Mayo, Bayless, or any other rumor flying the last few weeks involving Miami passing on Beasley were put to rest, and apparently the character concerns and reservations went with them. Like I've been saying for a while now (although I even started questioning it), Riley played the game brilliantly and got the player he wanted all along. Our roster is also still completely intact, so tonight was all about addition. And Beasley is one hell of an addition. I'll post videos within the next couple days of our 3 newest players.
Speaking of the other 2, we grabbed 2 potential impact guys in the second round, one with our pick at 52, and another through a trade. At pick 52, we drafted Darnell Jackson, the 6'8 PF from Kansas. He has a big frame, and works hard on both ends of the floor. He's a very good finisher, and has a pretty good mid-range jumper. Jackson averaged a respectable 11.2 pts and 6.7 rebs last season, very good numbers considering he played in one of the most loaded frontcourts in the NCAA last season. He really flew under the radar behind Darrell Arthur, and I think he can make the team and contribute in a year or two. Soon after that pick, it was announced that Miami was involved in a trade with Minnesota. My heart stopped for a second, thinking it was Beasley for Mayo, but it turned out to be a much better deal from Miami's perspective. We traded two 2nd round picks next year and some cash, for Mario Chalmers, PG from KU, who the T'Wolves chose at pick 34. There was talk of him being in the lottery, but he dropped into the early second round, and we were able to get him without giving up much of anything. I think that may turn out to be a very good pickup, he's a solid defender, good with the dribble, and can definitely shoot the 3, which is all we really want out of a PG next to Wade in the backcourt.
Overall, this draft gets an A+ from me. Maybe I'm just a homer. But Beasley will be a star. And Chalmers and Jackson could both be good role players in a few years, and good young bench players don't exactly grow on trees in the NBA. Very good draft, Riley clearly is still the genius he's always been.
Some other draft notes:
- Mayo looked absolutely DEVASTATED that he has to play in Minnesota instead of Miami. I kind of feel bad for him, because Riley played him as part of the whole "master plan" he had going, and Mayo seemed disappointed that he wasn't the 2nd pick. Oh well, he'll be a good player, and in 3 or 4 years he can leave Minny and get to the big market he craves. Good luck to him.
-The Knicks took the Italian Danilo Gallinari, and the fans in NYC booed him. New Yorkers booing an Italian? WTF?
-Utah had 3 draft picks, and picked 3 international guys. Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, and Tadija Dragici-whatever the hell it is. It became a bit of a running gag by the third pick with me and my dad, and we laughed for about 5 minutes after they took Dragicevic (or something). Apparently they don't want to see the two guys they got in round 2. And they definitely need a Euro guy to stick between Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko on the frontline. What a fun locker room that must be. Meh.
-Joey Dorsey was picked ahead of CD-R, who incredibly dropped to the 40th pick to New Jersey. What a joke. CD-R was the best player on Memphis last season, and he went after Joey Dorsey. And after Euro Stiffs like Omer Asik.
-Jay Bilas narrowed his Draft Vocabulary down to about 5 phrases by the end of the night, and he used them to describe every single pick. Long Wingspan. Can get off the floor. Will make an NBA team. Etc etc... Bilas is as boring as it gets.
-Wow. As I'm sitting here typing this, Minnesota has worked out a deal with Memphis that would swap Mayo for Love, with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner accompanying Mayo to Memphis, and Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins heading to Minnesota with Love. Blockbuster. Doesn't affect us any, but still, Wow.
-I'll have more in the next few days, as all the trades are worked out and picks are finalized. Free Agency starts soon as well, so as Riley makes moves, I'll post blogs. Sleep well Heat fans, dreaming about buying that new Michael Beasley Heat jersey. I know I will.
Basically, all the trade talks and garbage about Mayo, Bayless, or any other rumor flying the last few weeks involving Miami passing on Beasley were put to rest, and apparently the character concerns and reservations went with them. Like I've been saying for a while now (although I even started questioning it), Riley played the game brilliantly and got the player he wanted all along. Our roster is also still completely intact, so tonight was all about addition. And Beasley is one hell of an addition. I'll post videos within the next couple days of our 3 newest players.
Speaking of the other 2, we grabbed 2 potential impact guys in the second round, one with our pick at 52, and another through a trade. At pick 52, we drafted Darnell Jackson, the 6'8 PF from Kansas. He has a big frame, and works hard on both ends of the floor. He's a very good finisher, and has a pretty good mid-range jumper. Jackson averaged a respectable 11.2 pts and 6.7 rebs last season, very good numbers considering he played in one of the most loaded frontcourts in the NCAA last season. He really flew under the radar behind Darrell Arthur, and I think he can make the team and contribute in a year or two. Soon after that pick, it was announced that Miami was involved in a trade with Minnesota. My heart stopped for a second, thinking it was Beasley for Mayo, but it turned out to be a much better deal from Miami's perspective. We traded two 2nd round picks next year and some cash, for Mario Chalmers, PG from KU, who the T'Wolves chose at pick 34. There was talk of him being in the lottery, but he dropped into the early second round, and we were able to get him without giving up much of anything. I think that may turn out to be a very good pickup, he's a solid defender, good with the dribble, and can definitely shoot the 3, which is all we really want out of a PG next to Wade in the backcourt.
Overall, this draft gets an A+ from me. Maybe I'm just a homer. But Beasley will be a star. And Chalmers and Jackson could both be good role players in a few years, and good young bench players don't exactly grow on trees in the NBA. Very good draft, Riley clearly is still the genius he's always been.
Some other draft notes:
- Mayo looked absolutely DEVASTATED that he has to play in Minnesota instead of Miami. I kind of feel bad for him, because Riley played him as part of the whole "master plan" he had going, and Mayo seemed disappointed that he wasn't the 2nd pick. Oh well, he'll be a good player, and in 3 or 4 years he can leave Minny and get to the big market he craves. Good luck to him.
-The Knicks took the Italian Danilo Gallinari, and the fans in NYC booed him. New Yorkers booing an Italian? WTF?
-Utah had 3 draft picks, and picked 3 international guys. Kosta Koufos, Ante Tomic, and Tadija Dragici-whatever the hell it is. It became a bit of a running gag by the third pick with me and my dad, and we laughed for about 5 minutes after they took Dragicevic (or something). Apparently they don't want to see the two guys they got in round 2. And they definitely need a Euro guy to stick between Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko on the frontline. What a fun locker room that must be. Meh.
-Joey Dorsey was picked ahead of CD-R, who incredibly dropped to the 40th pick to New Jersey. What a joke. CD-R was the best player on Memphis last season, and he went after Joey Dorsey. And after Euro Stiffs like Omer Asik.
-Jay Bilas narrowed his Draft Vocabulary down to about 5 phrases by the end of the night, and he used them to describe every single pick. Long Wingspan. Can get off the floor. Will make an NBA team. Etc etc... Bilas is as boring as it gets.
-Wow. As I'm sitting here typing this, Minnesota has worked out a deal with Memphis that would swap Mayo for Love, with Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker, and Greg Buckner accompanying Mayo to Memphis, and Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins heading to Minnesota with Love. Blockbuster. Doesn't affect us any, but still, Wow.
-I'll have more in the next few days, as all the trades are worked out and picks are finalized. Free Agency starts soon as well, so as Riley makes moves, I'll post blogs. Sleep well Heat fans, dreaming about buying that new Michael Beasley Heat jersey. I know I will.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Qualifying Offers for Wright, Quinn, and Powell
The Heat extended qualifying offers to SF Dorrell Wright, PG Chris Quinn, and PF/D-League MVP Kasib Powell. This officially makes them restricted FA's. So, if any team decides they absolutely need Chris Quinn in their lineup, the Heat have the opportunity to match any offer he receives. I think Powell will most likely end up either a) cut, b) traded as filler in a bigger deal, or c) sent back down to NBADL. Quinn will probably be our backup PG behind Banks, unless we make a trade for a starter and keep Banks in the process, which would demote Quinn to the 3rd PG and alot of "DNP CD" box scores. Dorrell Wright, in my opinion, will be resigned and see significant minutes off the bench, or used in a sign-and-trade package with Marion, Cook, or Haslem.
Meanwhile, the draft is in less than 24 hours, and rumors are SWIRLING regarding the Heat and the number 2 pick. Some of it is assinine, some of it is ridiculous, and most of it is borderline retarded. The deals offered and rumored are so horrendously bad I can't help but feeling Riley is leaking information just to hide his true intentions. I get an image of Riley, Pfund, and Arison sitting in somebody's living room, smoking giant cigars, and prank-calling Chad Ford and Andy Katz with stupid trades and rumors, then laughing hysterically when it's plastered all over the network minutes later. ESPNEWS even went as far as speculating on a Wade-for-spare-parts trade in the works. Hilarious. But, if we really come out of this draft without Beasley or a comparable star, I will be royally pissed, along with most of the Heat fans I talk to. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow night. Just remember that in the NBA, trades are announced after picks are made, so be sure to watch until at least the start of the 2nd round to make sure we keep who we pick. Just because we take Beasley at 2 doesn't mean we don't have a deal in place, however unlikely it may seem. I'm gassing up the B-Easy Bandwagon tonight, and I hope Riley and the rest of the Heat FO jump aboard.
Meanwhile, the draft is in less than 24 hours, and rumors are SWIRLING regarding the Heat and the number 2 pick. Some of it is assinine, some of it is ridiculous, and most of it is borderline retarded. The deals offered and rumored are so horrendously bad I can't help but feeling Riley is leaking information just to hide his true intentions. I get an image of Riley, Pfund, and Arison sitting in somebody's living room, smoking giant cigars, and prank-calling Chad Ford and Andy Katz with stupid trades and rumors, then laughing hysterically when it's plastered all over the network minutes later. ESPNEWS even went as far as speculating on a Wade-for-spare-parts trade in the works. Hilarious. But, if we really come out of this draft without Beasley or a comparable star, I will be royally pissed, along with most of the Heat fans I talk to. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow night. Just remember that in the NBA, trades are announced after picks are made, so be sure to watch until at least the start of the 2nd round to make sure we keep who we pick. Just because we take Beasley at 2 doesn't mean we don't have a deal in place, however unlikely it may seem. I'm gassing up the B-Easy Bandwagon tonight, and I hope Riley and the rest of the Heat FO jump aboard.
Draft Day Approaches
In less than 48 hours, the Miami Heat will make a franchise-altering move in the NBA Draft. The overwhelming consensus with fans, experts, and the occasional "anonymous GM" is to take Michael Beasley at 2, and call it a night. Then start to wheel and deal with other pieces to fill in the gaps between Wade and Beas. But apparently every source ESPN has that's close to the Heat says we will be passing on Beasley (or trading him) to secure a PG. Mayo has been in the discussion for weeks, and Bayless has been mentioned in the latest reports. Also, that pesky anonymous source is giving info on Riley actually making the phone calls regarding trades, instead of just fielding offers. All this speculation and information can mean many different things. I'll try to give you a couple plausible reasons why these reports continue coming out.
A) Riley has lost it, and he is seriously considering passing Beasley to another team to end up with Mayo/Bayless. This, in my mind, is the most unlikely, but also the scariest if it happens to be true. Since the night of the lottery, Riley has tried to bury Beasley's draft stock 6ft under, and it seems like it will continue right up until we make a selection/trade. If Riley has been truthful in his comments, and he does in fact select Mayo at 2, or accept a horrible trade to drop down, it will indicate that Riley isn't the shrewd GM he's been in the past. I find this hard to believe as well, considering he was able to rectify this past offseason by dealing Shaq and his enormous contract for a versatile player and valuable trade chip. There is no way Riley could actually be thinking about just letting the best college prospect this decade slip through his fingers. And if he does, I'll be driving the Fire Riley Wagon down I95, so feel free to hop on.
B) ESPN is creating interest and thus boosting ratings for their draft coverage by publishing outlandish reports from unnamed sources. This is about as unlikely as Riley all the sudden losing his touch, but it's still a possibility. ESPN doesn't seem like they are in the business of sports news as much as they are in the business of ratings and money as of late. And this would go along with that. If ESPN wants to create intrigue and lure viewers Thursday night, what better way to do it than to open the door to a possible blockbuster deal in which any team in the NBA may jump into the 2nd spot and grab the top prospect? It's a smart move by the Network, if that is indeed what they are doing. On a side note, it could also come from some misinformation coming out of the Heat offices getting to the ESPN reporters, and they are in a mad dash to break the blockbuster news before anyone else. This is the same thing that happened at the Boston paper during the Spygate garbage. Ratings, and being the first network/writer to break the news, could drive ESPN to come up with some interesting trade scenario's involving the Draft.
C) Riley continues to put out false reports of his supposed interest in other prospects, or trading his pick, or other ways he can dump Beasley. This is the scenario I'm leaning to, if only because I've felt this way for a while, and I think any fan of the Heat knows that Riley isn't stupid, and lies and misdirection are just a part of the game he plays come draft time. Isaiah is dumb enough to pass on Beasley, McHale is probably dumb enough, Billy Knight is dumb enough, but not Riley. He built a championship team here before, and he came damn close in his first attempt as well, so I can't see that same man absolutely blowing the biggest moment for this franchise in a long time. I feel (and I've felt this way since lottery night) that Riley has wanted Beasley from day 1. When he began taking games off to scout prospects, he often went to see K-State play, to watch Beasley. He talked up both top prospects (Rose included) during the weeks leading up to the lottery, and then, after landing the 2nd pick instead of the 1st, immediately nuked Beasley's stock and did everything he could to launch Rose into the 1 spot. Whether his opinion had any affect on Chicago's impending decision, I have no idea, but it very well may have. The fact that he was so blatant in his statements suggests to me that it was a Parcellian misdirection ploy, and that he was trying his absolute hardest to make sure Beasley fell to us at number 2. All the trade talks will just enhance this smokescreen, making it seem that we would be willing to take just about anything to avoid taking MB.
I hope and pray that scenario C is the correct one, and that we will, when the smoke clears, select, sign, and suit Beasley up next season. Like I mentioned before, Riley will have to do some serious explaining to the fanbase should he pass on a possible Superstar. So keep an eye out for more reports, and check the Draft out tomorrow night. Just know that if, by Friday morning, Beasley is not a member of the Heat, that there may not be a new post coming up because I'll be checking into a mental hospital. Pat, don't fail us now.
A) Riley has lost it, and he is seriously considering passing Beasley to another team to end up with Mayo/Bayless. This, in my mind, is the most unlikely, but also the scariest if it happens to be true. Since the night of the lottery, Riley has tried to bury Beasley's draft stock 6ft under, and it seems like it will continue right up until we make a selection/trade. If Riley has been truthful in his comments, and he does in fact select Mayo at 2, or accept a horrible trade to drop down, it will indicate that Riley isn't the shrewd GM he's been in the past. I find this hard to believe as well, considering he was able to rectify this past offseason by dealing Shaq and his enormous contract for a versatile player and valuable trade chip. There is no way Riley could actually be thinking about just letting the best college prospect this decade slip through his fingers. And if he does, I'll be driving the Fire Riley Wagon down I95, so feel free to hop on.
B) ESPN is creating interest and thus boosting ratings for their draft coverage by publishing outlandish reports from unnamed sources. This is about as unlikely as Riley all the sudden losing his touch, but it's still a possibility. ESPN doesn't seem like they are in the business of sports news as much as they are in the business of ratings and money as of late. And this would go along with that. If ESPN wants to create intrigue and lure viewers Thursday night, what better way to do it than to open the door to a possible blockbuster deal in which any team in the NBA may jump into the 2nd spot and grab the top prospect? It's a smart move by the Network, if that is indeed what they are doing. On a side note, it could also come from some misinformation coming out of the Heat offices getting to the ESPN reporters, and they are in a mad dash to break the blockbuster news before anyone else. This is the same thing that happened at the Boston paper during the Spygate garbage. Ratings, and being the first network/writer to break the news, could drive ESPN to come up with some interesting trade scenario's involving the Draft.
C) Riley continues to put out false reports of his supposed interest in other prospects, or trading his pick, or other ways he can dump Beasley. This is the scenario I'm leaning to, if only because I've felt this way for a while, and I think any fan of the Heat knows that Riley isn't stupid, and lies and misdirection are just a part of the game he plays come draft time. Isaiah is dumb enough to pass on Beasley, McHale is probably dumb enough, Billy Knight is dumb enough, but not Riley. He built a championship team here before, and he came damn close in his first attempt as well, so I can't see that same man absolutely blowing the biggest moment for this franchise in a long time. I feel (and I've felt this way since lottery night) that Riley has wanted Beasley from day 1. When he began taking games off to scout prospects, he often went to see K-State play, to watch Beasley. He talked up both top prospects (Rose included) during the weeks leading up to the lottery, and then, after landing the 2nd pick instead of the 1st, immediately nuked Beasley's stock and did everything he could to launch Rose into the 1 spot. Whether his opinion had any affect on Chicago's impending decision, I have no idea, but it very well may have. The fact that he was so blatant in his statements suggests to me that it was a Parcellian misdirection ploy, and that he was trying his absolute hardest to make sure Beasley fell to us at number 2. All the trade talks will just enhance this smokescreen, making it seem that we would be willing to take just about anything to avoid taking MB.
I hope and pray that scenario C is the correct one, and that we will, when the smoke clears, select, sign, and suit Beasley up next season. Like I mentioned before, Riley will have to do some serious explaining to the fanbase should he pass on a possible Superstar. So keep an eye out for more reports, and check the Draft out tomorrow night. Just know that if, by Friday morning, Beasley is not a member of the Heat, that there may not be a new post coming up because I'll be checking into a mental hospital. Pat, don't fail us now.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Alexander Johnson Waived
The man that my Dad and I called 'Anonymous' Johnson has been put on waivers by Miami today. A little (very little) history on the nickname: when he first appeared in a game last season, we kept calling him Anthony Johnson. Then it was Antonio. Then we found out it was Alexander. But we couldn't keep it straight. Add that to the fact that neither of us knew who he was, where he came from, or how he ended up on the court for the Heat, and the 'Anonymous' moniker was born. Not that any of you care. Back to the topic.
I'm actually surprised by this move. I figured that he may be the odd man out, but I thought we would wait until we had a couple bigs to replace him. He was basically a FA insurance policy, because if we couldn't land any quality bigs, Anonymous is not a bad guy to have as the 4th big in the rotation. 6'10, big body, good rebounder, ok defender, not a starter/6th man by any stretch, but he's was a decent player. Or maybe last year's D-League roster made him look like a much better player than he really is. Probably the latter.
So, on this note, we bid farewell to the Anonymous Johnson era in Miami. Can't say I'm disappointed. I'm ready to get back to winning games. Draft on Thursday, don't miss it.
I'm actually surprised by this move. I figured that he may be the odd man out, but I thought we would wait until we had a couple bigs to replace him. He was basically a FA insurance policy, because if we couldn't land any quality bigs, Anonymous is not a bad guy to have as the 4th big in the rotation. 6'10, big body, good rebounder, ok defender, not a starter/6th man by any stretch, but he's was a decent player. Or maybe last year's D-League roster made him look like a much better player than he really is. Probably the latter.
So, on this note, we bid farewell to the Anonymous Johnson era in Miami. Can't say I'm disappointed. I'm ready to get back to winning games. Draft on Thursday, don't miss it.
Shawn Marion Opt-Out Watch
The deadline for Marion to opt-out of the last year in his $17.8 million contract is Tuesday evening, and all signs point to him bypassing that option. His agent said Sunday that it's "highly unlikely" that he'll forego the final season to become a free agent. In my opinion, it's a good decision on his part. He won't get that kind of money from anyone, so he's better off taking the big payday and trying to play his way into a better contract than he would get as a FA this year.
On Miami's front, I think this basically puts him on trading block. He suddenly becomes worth much more than just his on-court play because of the large amount of money coming off the cap next season. If the Heat land Beasley on Thursday (and I expect them to) Marion will most likely be moved for a couple decent starters. So, I believe Miami will end up with Beasley, sign 1 or 2 key FA's, and move Marion to fill in the other spots. I have faith in Riley to get the job done.
On Miami's front, I think this basically puts him on trading block. He suddenly becomes worth much more than just his on-court play because of the large amount of money coming off the cap next season. If the Heat land Beasley on Thursday (and I expect them to) Marion will most likely be moved for a couple decent starters. So, I believe Miami will end up with Beasley, sign 1 or 2 key FA's, and move Marion to fill in the other spots. I have faith in Riley to get the job done.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Rose Changes His Tune, Meets With Heat In Cali
Last we heard from Derrick Rose, he wasn't planning on working out for the Heat, but he decided against that strategy yesterday, and met with the Miami coaching staff in Santa Monica, California earlier today. Rose did some court work for the staff, and Miami's coaches also took him to lunch. Pat Riley was unable to be there, but he did speak to Rose by phone during the course of the meeting.
Rose's agent, B.J. Armstrong, said that the statements Rose made about not visiting with the Heat arose from his busy pre-draft schedule, and the fact that his reps didn't want him to cross the country to visit in Miami, double back to LA, and travel cross-country again to NY for the Draft Thursday. Not sure why they couldn't meet earlier than the last week before the draft, to avoid this kind of scheduling overload, but I guess there was more important things for Rose to take care of than meeting with the Heat.
My take: I'm not sure the meeting was necessary because I seriously doubt Chicago passes on Rose. And I believe that Riley wants Beasley, despite what the major media will tell you. I wouldn't bank on a trade out of the 2 spot either. In my view, the top of the draft is gonna be pretty cut and dry. 1. Rose. 2. Beasley. 3. Mayo. And then the fun will begin. Somebody will take Brook Lopez too high. Somebody will take Eric Gordon too low. And Phoenix and Portland will both make a trade, but probably not with each other. I'm expecting the Knicks to try and trade down and dump one of their horrendous contracts on a team looking to move up. However, don't be surprised to see something completely out of the blue. This IS the NBA, after all.
Rose's agent, B.J. Armstrong, said that the statements Rose made about not visiting with the Heat arose from his busy pre-draft schedule, and the fact that his reps didn't want him to cross the country to visit in Miami, double back to LA, and travel cross-country again to NY for the Draft Thursday. Not sure why they couldn't meet earlier than the last week before the draft, to avoid this kind of scheduling overload, but I guess there was more important things for Rose to take care of than meeting with the Heat.
My take: I'm not sure the meeting was necessary because I seriously doubt Chicago passes on Rose. And I believe that Riley wants Beasley, despite what the major media will tell you. I wouldn't bank on a trade out of the 2 spot either. In my view, the top of the draft is gonna be pretty cut and dry. 1. Rose. 2. Beasley. 3. Mayo. And then the fun will begin. Somebody will take Brook Lopez too high. Somebody will take Eric Gordon too low. And Phoenix and Portland will both make a trade, but probably not with each other. I'm expecting the Knicks to try and trade down and dump one of their horrendous contracts on a team looking to move up. However, don't be surprised to see something completely out of the blue. This IS the NBA, after all.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Rose Won't Work Out For The Heat
Derrick Rose is putting all his eggs in Chicago's basket, it seems, after his comments today. A few quotes:
On his reaction if the Bulls select him: "Everything would be perfect, it would be a dream come true, I swear. I'll probably faint if they call my name, I'll need a paramedic close by."
On falling to Miami at number 2: "I'll hate it. Anybody would hate their hometown not taking you, knowing that it could happen. But the biggest thing was playing in the NBA. My work ethic isn't going to change."
On if he has a workout scheduled with Miami: "I don't think so. All I know now is that I'm here."
When asked if he has a reason why he hasn't scheduled a workout with the Heat: "Not really. They're in the top two. So I'll probably go down there and work out. But if not, too bad."
Reggie Rose, Derrick's brother and trusted advisor, also chimed in: "This is our last stop."
I think it's important to note that Rose's agent is former Bulls PG B.J. Armstrong. It's becoming more and more likely with each passing day that Rose will the first pick in the draft, and I'm very happy with that. He seems like he would actually be disappointed coming to Miami, and I don't want a player like that. And it also means we would get Beasley, who I believe has been Riley's target all along.
Rose's statements can mean 1 of 2 things. 1) Chicago has already made him a promise, so no Miami visit is needed, and all the hysterics over being drafted by Chicago is playing to the fans before the draft. or 2) Rose has maturity issues and/or is pretty dumb making statements that could jeopardize his draft status should Chicago pass on him. I'm leaning towards 1, but looking back at all of Rose's past quotes leading up to this, he goes back and forth with regularity. There was his "Beasley is better than me," moment, where it appeared he was pushing the Bulls to take the KState prospect. And the "I would love to play with Wade." comment when asked about coming to Miami. And now, he basically says that he would "hate" to be drafted by anyone but Chicago, including the Heat. Confusing, to say the least, but I think it'll all be a moot point once Chicago takes him.
On his reaction if the Bulls select him: "Everything would be perfect, it would be a dream come true, I swear. I'll probably faint if they call my name, I'll need a paramedic close by."
On falling to Miami at number 2: "I'll hate it. Anybody would hate their hometown not taking you, knowing that it could happen. But the biggest thing was playing in the NBA. My work ethic isn't going to change."
On if he has a workout scheduled with Miami: "I don't think so. All I know now is that I'm here."
When asked if he has a reason why he hasn't scheduled a workout with the Heat: "Not really. They're in the top two. So I'll probably go down there and work out. But if not, too bad."
Reggie Rose, Derrick's brother and trusted advisor, also chimed in: "This is our last stop."
I think it's important to note that Rose's agent is former Bulls PG B.J. Armstrong. It's becoming more and more likely with each passing day that Rose will the first pick in the draft, and I'm very happy with that. He seems like he would actually be disappointed coming to Miami, and I don't want a player like that. And it also means we would get Beasley, who I believe has been Riley's target all along.
Rose's statements can mean 1 of 2 things. 1) Chicago has already made him a promise, so no Miami visit is needed, and all the hysterics over being drafted by Chicago is playing to the fans before the draft. or 2) Rose has maturity issues and/or is pretty dumb making statements that could jeopardize his draft status should Chicago pass on him. I'm leaning towards 1, but looking back at all of Rose's past quotes leading up to this, he goes back and forth with regularity. There was his "Beasley is better than me," moment, where it appeared he was pushing the Bulls to take the KState prospect. And the "I would love to play with Wade." comment when asked about coming to Miami. And now, he basically says that he would "hate" to be drafted by anyone but Chicago, including the Heat. Confusing, to say the least, but I think it'll all be a moot point once Chicago takes him.
Upcoming Free Agents Part 4
This is the final installment of the Free Agency feature here at Miami Heat Times. There are 8 teams left to be covered, but I'll try to keep it short, especially since there aren't many players coming up that are worth talking about. The Draft is coming up in less than a week, and the FA period soon after, so it's about to get real busy down here in Wade County.
Phoenix Suns
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Gordan Giricek, Grant Hill, Linton Johnson, Sean Marks, Eric Piatkowski, Brian Skinner
> Lot of age in this group. In fact, other than Linton Johnson (who?), everyone here is over 30. Not exactly the kind of players Miami needs to sink money into during a rebuilding year. We're looking for young, up and coming role players to be high-energy, consistent performers alongside Wade and (insert draft pick here). Since exactly zero of these guys fit the bill, I'm moving on.
Portland Trail Blazers
Restricted: Von Wafer
Unrestricted: James Jones
> I could've skipped Portland altogether, and nobody would've noticed. However, I wouldn't totally write off James Jones. He's not that good, but he's from Miami, he's got good size for a SF (6'8 220), and he shot 44% from 3pt range last season on 200+ attempts. If we fail to land a decent backup swingman, Jones could probably end up like a middle-class man's James Posey. I definitely wouldn't take him over a guy like Ariza, Deng, or Iguodala, but as a worst-case scenario, he wouldn't be half bad.
Sacramento Kings
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Beno Udrih, Anthony Johnson, Lorenzen Wright
> There's a realistic chance Artest could opt out, at least giving some name recognition to the Kings' FA's, but I wouldn't touch him in free agency, or a trade, or for free. Let's just focus on the actual names here. Beno Udrih looks like he could develop into a solid PG, but he doesn't shoot the 3 ball enough to satisfy me at the position. However, if he can stay around 38% at a higher shooting clip, he could be a nice complementary player.
San Antonio Spurs
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, DerMarr Johnson, Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Jacque Vaughn
> This is the NBA's Senior League All-Star Team. A few of these guys might retire, but it doesn't matter to me, we won't be seeing anybody here in a Heat uniform. What's next?
Seattle SuperSonics
Restricted: Mickael Gelabale, Robert Swift
Unrestricted: Ronald Dupree, Francisco Elson
> Two 7ft stiffs. In the same paragraph. And in a couple months I may have to come back and change the team to the Oklahoma City something-or-others (I propose Bombers). I told you this post would be short.
Toronto Raptors
Restricted: Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino
Unrestricted: Primoz Brezec, Rasho Nesterovic
> I seriously doubt Toronto allows Calderon to go elsewhere, especially when you consider that they are trying to move Ford in a trade. I'd love to have him here, but i can't think of a scenario where the Raps would allow him to get away. However, if Jamario Moon is available, somebody over at Heat HQ should get on the phone with Toronto ASAP.
Utah Jazz
Restricted: C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap
Unrestricted: Jason Hart
> We already have a Millsap-clone in Haslem, (or is Millsap a Haslem-clone?). We don't need two guys like that. We're getting close to the end here, and there isn't one guy I really want out of this group of teams.
Washington Wizards
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Roger Mason
> Arenas opted out of his contract as expected, but I kind of expect him to resign with Washington eventually. And I wouldn't want him on this team anyway. With DWade and our rookie, there won't be enough shots to satisfy him, and he'll probably take shots away from the other two guys to get his own. He's not a very good second banana, and we don't need another top dog in the rotation. Jamison would be a solid PF for us, but at 32, how much longer can he really go before his play declines? I think I would rather have a younger guy who has the potential to put up Jamison's numbers, than take a chance that Antawn can continue this level of play into his mid-30's.
This may have been the weakest group of the 4, but that's everyone. Not exactly a strong class, but there's some hidden gems out there that could contribute nicely. I doubt Pat breaks the bank for anybody this season, considering we could be major player's in '09 and '10 when we'll have Marion's 18mil to throw around. If Marion decides to opt out, we could make a play at one or two of the restricted FA's (Okafor, Deng, Boobie Gibson, Iguodala). There's alot of ways we can go this offseason, and it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks.
Phoenix Suns
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Gordan Giricek, Grant Hill, Linton Johnson, Sean Marks, Eric Piatkowski, Brian Skinner
> Lot of age in this group. In fact, other than Linton Johnson (who?), everyone here is over 30. Not exactly the kind of players Miami needs to sink money into during a rebuilding year. We're looking for young, up and coming role players to be high-energy, consistent performers alongside Wade and (insert draft pick here). Since exactly zero of these guys fit the bill, I'm moving on.
Portland Trail Blazers
Restricted: Von Wafer
Unrestricted: James Jones
> I could've skipped Portland altogether, and nobody would've noticed. However, I wouldn't totally write off James Jones. He's not that good, but he's from Miami, he's got good size for a SF (6'8 220), and he shot 44% from 3pt range last season on 200+ attempts. If we fail to land a decent backup swingman, Jones could probably end up like a middle-class man's James Posey. I definitely wouldn't take him over a guy like Ariza, Deng, or Iguodala, but as a worst-case scenario, he wouldn't be half bad.
Sacramento Kings
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Beno Udrih, Anthony Johnson, Lorenzen Wright
> There's a realistic chance Artest could opt out, at least giving some name recognition to the Kings' FA's, but I wouldn't touch him in free agency, or a trade, or for free. Let's just focus on the actual names here. Beno Udrih looks like he could develop into a solid PG, but he doesn't shoot the 3 ball enough to satisfy me at the position. However, if he can stay around 38% at a higher shooting clip, he could be a nice complementary player.
San Antonio Spurs
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Brent Barry, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, DerMarr Johnson, Damon Stoudamire, Kurt Thomas, Jacque Vaughn
> This is the NBA's Senior League All-Star Team. A few of these guys might retire, but it doesn't matter to me, we won't be seeing anybody here in a Heat uniform. What's next?
Seattle SuperSonics
Restricted: Mickael Gelabale, Robert Swift
Unrestricted: Ronald Dupree, Francisco Elson
> Two 7ft stiffs. In the same paragraph. And in a couple months I may have to come back and change the team to the Oklahoma City something-or-others (I propose Bombers). I told you this post would be short.
Toronto Raptors
Restricted: Jose Calderon, Carlos Delfino
Unrestricted: Primoz Brezec, Rasho Nesterovic
> I seriously doubt Toronto allows Calderon to go elsewhere, especially when you consider that they are trying to move Ford in a trade. I'd love to have him here, but i can't think of a scenario where the Raps would allow him to get away. However, if Jamario Moon is available, somebody over at Heat HQ should get on the phone with Toronto ASAP.
Utah Jazz
Restricted: C.J. Miles, Paul Millsap
Unrestricted: Jason Hart
> We already have a Millsap-clone in Haslem, (or is Millsap a Haslem-clone?). We don't need two guys like that. We're getting close to the end here, and there isn't one guy I really want out of this group of teams.
Washington Wizards
Restricted: None
Unrestricted: Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Roger Mason
> Arenas opted out of his contract as expected, but I kind of expect him to resign with Washington eventually. And I wouldn't want him on this team anyway. With DWade and our rookie, there won't be enough shots to satisfy him, and he'll probably take shots away from the other two guys to get his own. He's not a very good second banana, and we don't need another top dog in the rotation. Jamison would be a solid PF for us, but at 32, how much longer can he really go before his play declines? I think I would rather have a younger guy who has the potential to put up Jamison's numbers, than take a chance that Antawn can continue this level of play into his mid-30's.
This may have been the weakest group of the 4, but that's everyone. Not exactly a strong class, but there's some hidden gems out there that could contribute nicely. I doubt Pat breaks the bank for anybody this season, considering we could be major player's in '09 and '10 when we'll have Marion's 18mil to throw around. If Marion decides to opt out, we could make a play at one or two of the restricted FA's (Okafor, Deng, Boobie Gibson, Iguodala). There's alot of ways we can go this offseason, and it'll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks.
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