The Miami Heat landed what was arguably two of the best talents in this years NBA Draft.

In Michael Beasley you have easily the most talented athlete from an overall standpoint, and in ’Super’ Mario Chalmers, you have a prototypical Pat Riley player who is in some ways above average offensively, but more importantly, knows how to excel strongly from a defensive standpoint. 

It’s pretty hard to tell exactly what the Miami Heat’s starting roster will look like when the season kicks off but when you look around at the youth and athleticism, it can’t be anything less than inspiring.

Pat Riley has made it clear….Anything less than a postseason run will be disappointing. And exactly what does he plan to do to help turn things around? Well, according to various team insiders, use the free agent market to land the last of a few final pieces to the puzzle and make this team an instant contender.

The Marion-for-Odom trade is still being discussed, as well as a few others. No one quite knows which deal Riley will pull the trigger on but he has made it abundantly clear that it’ll be something that makes the team instantly better.

With no such deal on the table as of yet, we briefly look at the impact of those we know will be on the roster:

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Listening to the supposed experts, there are a number of different scenario’s that could ultimately play out, but rather than analyze potential trade options, today we’ll analyze the ‘Key 3′ that Miami will eventually have to choose from to keep on their team roster when all the smoke finally clears.

Considering that no one truly knows who the Chicago Bulls will select, we’ll analyze Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley, and O.J. Mayo to see which has the best chance of actually sticking to the team roster.

Derrick Rose:

To me personally, the jury is still out on Derrick Rose. Everyone has been pretty quick to ordain him as the second coming of Jason Kidd, but personally, I have a partial reservation in selecting a guy who was just another face in the crowd during the regular season, but happened to step up big in the postseason. Granted, it does say alot that he was able to elevate his game on the biggest stage he encountered, but it also tells me that he could be an overly methodical player which may cause a steep learning curve on the NBA level. His court vision is beautiful, his ability to get teammates involved is grand, but as it relates to the Miami Heat, how does his ability translate on the court with a Dwyane Wade and company? Does Wade need a great distributor who isn’t an offensive threat? Or is he better suited with a great distributor who can also divert attention away from him based on a keen ability to hit jumpers and score at critical points in the clutch? The one major upside to him is that being so young, the Miami Heat could actually use players like him and Wade to serve as the true ‘core’ to build around for years to come. (Of course that has alot to do with what Wade decides at the end of his expiring contract which is only a few years away). Overall, he’s a great talent, and I do see a certain maturity in him that I like, but I think Wade would be better suited with someone who is more of an offensive threat around him. No matter how good Rose distributes the rock, when there’s only 3 seconds on the clock and the small forward inbounds the ball, if everyone knows Wade is gonna get it, we’re still in the same predicament we’ve been in in the past as far as I’m concerned. We need someone to divert attention based on better than average scoring ability. That’s my biggest concern with Rose.

Michael Beasley: 

Of the three potentials in this draft for the Miami Heat, hands down, this guy is the most talented. Many teams typically use the “best man available” approach, regardless of team needs. If that philosophical approach was adopted within the Miami Heat organization, this would be the man selected. As it appears, he very well may be, but not with intent to keep, which is a bit skeptical in my book. Watching this guy in college from the beginning of the season to the bitter end, his play was far more consistent than that of the other two. Beasley has shown an ability to beat defenders on the inside, from the outside, and anywhere in between. Aside from his ability to score and potentially distract defenders from loading up on Dwyane Wade, he also has the type of length, infused with athleticism that the team could use. In Beasley I think Miami gets what they desired from a young and unfortunately still developing Dorrell Wright. Standing at 6′ 7″, Beasley would be important on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court. Miami style defense would take time for him to develop, but he’s instant offense, and most important, he’s the kind of player that every opposing coach would have to gameplan for night in and night out. That’s a major plus considering that his potential teammate (D-Wade) is already on the minds of the same coaches. Can’t double team both guys which thickens the plot immensely, but hey, that’s that other coaches problem! Overall, I think Beasley is the best talent to get. Off court issues and maturity have become an issue, but they said the same thing about Caron Butler, and if you know like me, I wish we had that guy back!

O.J. Mayo:

Rose is viewed as the frontrunner, Beasley is viewed by many as the most talented, but Mayo is clearly the ‘dark horse’ in this race and this is one wildcard I think Riley has had in his back pocket for quite some time. The intriguing thing about Mayo is that despite the fact that he’s not as talented as Beasley, or as proficient at certain things as Rose, I think he has enough of each quality to make him the best man for the job. He can score the ball, he can pass the ball, he has height, and he spent more time at the collegiate level so his fundamentals are somewhat better. Questions about his actions off the court have also come into play, but hey, the last guy to leave U.S.C. who was tied to this same type of drama (the N.F.L.’s Reggie Bush) panned out just fine! Different sport, same mentality in the players. That mentality is one built on hardwork, and dedication to the betterment of themselves and those around them. Mayo, in my estimation, displays the most maturity of them all on and off the court. Demeanor seems very business like, and another key element here is that he’s been in the public light since he was in high school, so the big stage isn’t quite as overwhelming to a guy like him who’s been there and done that. His fundamental training and maturity I think is what ultimately makes him the selection that will actually stick for the Miami Heat. Whether they trade up for him, or whatever the case may be, this is the guy that I think will actually stick.

Final Analysis: 

When it’s all said and done, I think the Miami Heat will draft Michael Beasley and find a way to package him in a deal that will land them O.J. Mayo and some other key component. Acquiring Mayo allows them to keep Marion to accompany Wade and a new stud PG which should make for an interesting season under Erik Spoelstra who will run a totally different style of offense than what we saw under Riley. More free-flowing, more open, more explosive. With O.J. McDuffie retired and O.J. Simpson behind wires, tonight, Mayo becomes the new official O.J. of Miami.

How desperate can any member of the media be to start the pathetic rumors about a possible D-Wade trade?

Of all the players in the sport, this guy is more coveted than any.

It would take a prime Michael Jordan to rip Wade away from the jaws of Miami and trust me, it ain’t happenin’.

Who we end up snatching in the draft to play alongside him remains to be seen, but one thing for sure, barring any unfortunate happenings, D-Wade will suit up in a Miami uniform next year.

With all the draft talk and after finally getting a chance to review extended footage of alot of these guys in the mix, I’m beginning to warm up to the thought of Miami snatching O.J. Mayo if Rose is gone at #2.

No knocks on Beasley because of the three, he’s probably the best overall, but if you’re looking for some backcourt help to join Wade, he’s the man if Rose isn’t there.

Despite a few question marks, I think Mayo’s maturity and disposition may not be far off the Riley mark either.

He’s spent time in college and has polished his game with the fundamentals that Beasley doesn’t quite have and Rose may still be in the process of finding.

Should be interesting but with Zo looking to return, considering the rest of the lineup expected, I think he would be a good addition if it came down to it.

Beasley, Rose, or Mayo….Not an easy decision to make, but not a bad problem to have either. 

Random NBA Finals Thoughts….

Where was Pao Gasol the other night? Well, he was in the back pocket of KG who owned him the other night.

The Lakers’ team in general just didn’t seem to be themselves.

Coming into the game it was stated by many in the media that they (L.A.) would need a game or so to adjust before they go back to what has become vintage Lakers B-ball.

Laker fans can only hope that was the truth because after watching them fail to gain a consistent flow, many have began to wonder if the run leading up to the Finals was a hoax.

I don’t think you can really expect Kobe and the rest of the team to play that way for a complete 7 game series.

I expect Kobe to come out shooting sharp, and I expect the rest of the team to follow suit.

The real question is whether Boston can carry this momentum on the road to the West Coast, even if they can take both games in Bean-town.

Remember people, this is the same squad that failed to beat Atlanta on the road and was forced into a 7 game series with the worst team in the playoffs.

Should be interesting but if they can’t steal a game or two on the road, that could spell trouble because I’m more than sure that Kobe and his crew can win in Boston.

Only time will tell.

The Miami Heat managed to squeeze into the #2 slot for the upcoming NBA draft and either way it goes, the two main front-runners are more than adequate for the plans in Miami.

With a front court that’s already pretty loaded, the Chicago Bulls may look to add backcourt help by acquiring PG Derrick Rose. Then again, they’re sort of loaded in the backcourt as well, so they could use this opportunity to trade a player or two to make room in the front court for Beasley.

It’s still pretty early to really get a gauge on what the Miami Heat will do but it’s all predicated on what the Bulls do at the #1 spot.

I think the obvious fit for Miami would be Rose because it would address the teams biggest need.

If the Bulls do grab him first, the Point Guard position for Miami would still have major question marks and the log jam at PF becomes a concern with what would be Beasley, Haslem, and Marion on the roster, among others.

I’d hate to see the team part ways with Udonis but if they think Marion will opt to stay longer than his current contract stipulates, the team could trade Haslem for a decent PG and another piece possibly.

The flipside is that they could also trade Marion, keep Haslem, and get a couple pieces, including a noteworthy PG. 

The only certainty here is that with many questions answered, a ton more were raised. Usually that isn’t a great thing, but personally, I’m part of that growing majority that feels this isn’t quite a bad position to be in after all! 

Still isn’t much knowledge of who the team will look for, but personally I don’t think you can go wrong with either Rose or Beasley.

Rose fits the mold of what the team actually needs, but Beasley is a matchup problem for most and first year coach Erik Spoelstra could definitely find a way to ’scheme’ him into things.

Only time will tell but for now, we can only hope that this is the Miami Heats version of “SUPER TUESDAY”.

Dwyane Wade will represent the team at the event.

Who is this guy? What has he done to become an NBA head coach? What credibility will he have with all-stars on the free agency market who like to look at a guy in the locker room who’s been there and done that?

All of these questions will soon be asked of Spoelstra if they haven’t already. How do we know?, because former Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy was asked the same thing and due to a few big ego’s in the locker room, never ended his tenure in Miami with a true chance to respond.

Although it was never publically admitted, a wide contingent has it that former Heat players such as Gary Payton and Shaquille O’Neal were very adament about getting a coach in the locker room that they could see eye to eye with, and a person who’d done more in and for the game than they had.

After beginning the season in a way that was viewed as an underachievement, Stan Van Gundy ended up stepping down for a stated reason of “Wanting to spend more time with his family”, and never again saw the light of day in Miami.

As great as it was to see the story end in an eventual Pat Riley led first team Championship, it came at the great dismay of a man who deserved far better than the way things ended.

What Goes Around Comes Around

After outspoken vets like Shaquille O’Neal and Gary Payton alledgedly played the culprit role of helping send Van Gundy packing, it seemed that atleast one of them had something to do with the current depleted state of the team, seeing to it that Riley was drained of all interest, resulting in the same absence from the bench. That player being Shaquille O’Neal.

Now that the damage is done, Pat Riley has - in what was most believed was an inevitable move - stepped down, relinquishing the position to another young prospect who fell under his tutelage.

‘The Other Side’

Now that the time has come, what does tomorrow bring for the Miami Heat? With all of the adversity, the good, the bad, and the ugly, what will the culmination of all the actions bring about?

Standing less than 2 months away from the NBA draft, whatever tomorrow holds for the Miami Heat it will undoubtedly be shaped and crafted around what happens there.

Free agents and fans will all watch in great anticipation. Be it Beasley, or Rose, both men will go a great way in solidifying a roster already containing Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion, and Dorrell Wright.

The youth and athleticism that has been boasted about for years is now somewhat a reality, and every step from this point on will contribute to that.

It’s hard to say what the draft will look like for the Miami Heat, let alone an opening day roster, but for now, the questions continue.  Making this a ‘To Be Continued’ episode, rather than a ‘Closed Chapter’. After the way this season went, that sounds great. Score one point for the Miami Heat.

Haven’t we been down this road before? Pat Riley stepping down after a terribly bad season and handing down the reigns to one of his loyal assistants?

On Monday, Riley once again proved he wasn’t a man of his word when he backed off his promise less than a year ago when he said he would coach the team for three more years by stepping down to solely focus on his role as team president.

The Heat not only gambled their future with their roster during that 2006 championship season, but they also missed out on a great head coach in Stan Van Gundy. Was it all worth it to win a championship? Of course. But the joy of that championship parade only makes today a whole lot dimmer because not only is the Heat’s roster in disarray, but now their coaching staff is questionable.

I don’t know much about Spoelstra. In fact, neither did Micky Arison. Riley told the media during the 4 p.m. ET press conference that Spoelstra and Arison had never sat down and had a conversation until this past weekend. Spoelstra has been working under Riley for 13 years and is only 37 years old. I’m sure he has as much basketball IQ as anybody in the league. But I’ve said this before, to fix this Heat team, you need more than knowledge of the Xs and Os. You need leadership and a strong character. Spoelstra seems timid, shy and maybe even a little apprehensive. Is he the kind of guy who can get respect from his players to get them to do the things he wants. Will guys like Ricky Davis or Jason Williams even listen to him?

That remains to be seen. My only question is: When the Heat draft Michael Beasley/Derrick Rose, pick up some premier free agents, resign Shawn Marion and get a healthy Dwyane Wade, will Spoelstra suddenly want to spend more time with his family?

Unrestricted free agents

Jason Williams — GO

- I partly blame J-Will for the Heat’s don’t-give-it-100-percent-every-nigh mentality. J-Will only plays and practices hard when he wants to, and he’s a liability with defense and constant injuries — not to mention being a very streaky shooter. Sure, J-Will has played effective point guard for the Heat in spurts (mostly when he first came over from Memphis and led was one of the top in assist-to-turnover ratios). But there are a lot more problems than solutions with J-Will, and the Heat are better off with a more consistent shooting and better perimeter defending point guard. Plus, he’s already said he wants to play with Orlando next year. Good riddance!

 Ricky Davis — GO

- Ricky really wants to stay a member of the Miami Heat, but I don’t think he should stick around. Davis indicated he’s expecting about $6 million next season, and that is just way too much for a shoot-first player that doesn’t shoot that well to begin with. Riley has hinted at wanting to keep him around, with the understanding that he changes a lot of aspects to his game. But Davis still has the idea that he could be a 20-points-per-game scorer in this league, and that’s just not his role on this team — or on any team.

Alonzo Mourning — STAY (please?)

- The decision is all Zo’s. The Heat are sorely in need of a big-body center that can defend and rebound (two things Zo does very well, and two things Mark Blount simply does not). Zo has hinted at a comeback, and I’m starting to believe he will, too. If he can come back healthy (a big if considering he’s still midway through rehab), then the Heat can get a huge boost to their defense.

Earl Barron — STAY

- Why not? He won’t be making much next year, and the Heat have invested in him for three years now. He played good in a couple of games this season, but he’s going to have to put on some weight if he wants to get any playing time.

Joel Anthony — STAY

- The Heat badly need depth at power forward, and Anthony showed he can be an effective shot-blocker and rebounder in this league when he played in spurts. He’s a bit undersized, not very good offensively and definitely not a contributor next season, but he should get an invite to camp and he won’t make much next season.

Restricted free agents

Chris Quinn — STAY

- I really like Quinn. He’s smart, doesn’t turn the ball over, is a great spot-up shooter and has hit a bunch of clutch shots already. He’s going to have to improve his defense, but as an undrafted free agent, Quinn has panned out pretty nicely. I have a feeling a few teams are going to be interested in him, and the Heat should match any offer he gets because point guards run thin in Miami.

Dorrell Wright — STAY

- Wright should stay only if other teams don’t overpay. Riley has indicated the Heat will match Wright’s $2,425,086 qualifying offer, but if other teams want to give Wright upwards of $5 million, then that’s just too much. Wright is athletic, a good rebounder and a good shot blocker, but he needs to improve his jumpshot. Plus, I don’t think teams will pay too much for Wright because he’s still very unproven and coming off a significant injury.

Alexander Johnson — STAY

- Why not? Give him an invite to camp with minimum money. Johnson only averaged 4 points and 2 rebounds in 13 minutes a game this season, but he’s a power forward with NBA experience. Have him compete with Joel Anthony for the No. 3 PF spot.

After such a long and miserable season, despite all the negative commentary and talk of being out of words to describe this lowly Miami Heat season, now that the end is a reality, the emotions are greatly mixed.

What’s an April or May in South Florida without a series against Chauncey Billups and the Pistons?

Or another ‘White-Hot’ towel tossin’ session at the American Airlines Arena?

Can this really be?

Hate it or love it, it is. And there’s nothing that us Miami Heat fans can do about it but sit on the sidelines as the ‘big-boys’ hit the court.

Re-Sign or RESIGN?

Of all the questions raised, perhaps the biggest is the one surrounding Heat head coach Pat Riley. With such a storied team history, it’s very difficult to be opinionated on whether or not he should stay or go.

How do you effectively make an argument to various free agents around the league to join the team without having a ‘known-commodity’ at the helm?

Money aside, who REALLY wants to join a ‘project’ squad?

I think it’s great if Riley returns from a free agent enticing standpoint, but personally, I fall in that silent majority that feels maybe it’s time to get a new philosopher to command the troops.

As legendary as he is, it’s apparent that Pat Riley’s water has run dry. 

The type of team he needs to find success on this level is not the kind starting from a near basement level, which is what’s about to happen.

Decisions, Decisions…..

Speaking of the team, there are many options to be considered, but everything from the draft, to the free agency period, to whatever else, this team has it’s work cut out for them.

As for now, it’s time to take a well deserved rest. A very extended one.

The 1988-89 Miami Heat had an excuse.

It was an expansion team filled with first-year players and a first-year coach. The city of Miami had never seen basketball before, the Miami Arena had never held a basketball game before and most players had never played in the NBA before.

This Miami Heat team, with Finals MVP Dwyane Wade and Hall of Fame coach Pat Riley, gets no sympathy from me for being this bad.

The Heat lost to the host Raptors (41-40) by 16 points and now stand – or lie wounded and withered on the ground – at 14-67. That means the Heat has to beat the Atlanta Hawks (who just clinched a playoff berth) on Wednseday night to avoid being the worst team in their history.

Looks like the Heat have come full circle — from awfully bad, to OK, to playoff bound, to championship to awfully bad again.

A little good news

Kansas State forward Michael Beasley made it official that he would be headed for the NBA in a press conference on Monday night, giving the Heat at least a chance at landing the top player (talent-wise) in this year’s draft.

I’m still torn between Derrick Rose and Beasley. If the Heat draft Beasley, he’d probably come in to be a power forward because of his size compared to Shawn Marion. But I don’t think Beasley is big or strong enough to be good in the post at either end of the floor or be an effective rebounder. The Heat already has a god-awful rebounding big man in Mark Blount, so they can’t afford another weak box-out presence in the post.

One thing is for sure: The Heat better land a top-two pick because it’s a steep fall after that as far as talent goes.