Could Mayo be our pick ? With article.

[Heat11114]

nice column by Chad Ford on a free preview of Insider from the Heat's workout with OJ

I think trading down to 5 would be risky, who knows if he'd be there

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft200 ... ayo-080609

I really don't understand the interest in Miller. Sure we need a shooter, but 9 million for a 6th man? Then he's a 30 year old free agent in our "coveted" summer of 2010. He could potentially be a 2 year rental. If we're gonna move down to 5, why not try to get them to take back Blount, Banks or Both for Stoudamire and Collins (expiring) and have 20+ mil in cap space next year for a big. It makes even more sense to do that if we take Mayo and not Beasley seeing as Brand and Boozer could potentially be on the market in 09.

[Lane1974]

agreed
I think the reason they pass on Beasley is because they are targeting PFs for down the road (plus they have Marion and Haslem in hand)

I think the Miller thing is out there because a) Riley wanted him last trade deadline and 2) he's the "best" tradable player the Grizz have -- they wouldn't trade Gay and Conley by himself doesn't make enough $ to be a centerpiece.

I stand by my assertion that if they trade #2, they are getting a legit star back, not a just "nice" player like Miller. Plus you better believe whatever trade they make they are going to ship off a Blount or Banks

[Heat11114]

agreed

I stand by my assertion that if they trade #2, they are getting a legit star back, not a just "nice" player like Miller. Plus you better believe whatever trade they make they are going to ship off a Blount or Banks

I think it depends if we trade out or trade down. If we trade down and get Mayo, I think we could potentially settle on getting rid of our excess baggage or getting a young player as opposed to an all-star.

[Lane1974]

well they apparently love OJ (or putting up a helluva smoke screen).. OJ reminds me of an athletic Chauncy Billups /GP type -- big guard, can play D when he wants, not a traditional quarterback PG, but would be a good complement to Wade..

OJ/Wade/Marion/Haslem/Center would be a nice start for this season

if you pick up, say, Mike Miller and Darko (not sure the Grizz' opinion of Darko) and a PG with Mayo, both the Grizzlies expire for 2010... and I am sure Darko could be repackaged in a trade during midseason or next offseason, if they do a S&T for Brand or Boozer..

Mayo/Wade/Miller/Marion/Darko (Kwame)
bench: Haslem, Lowry (Crittenton), Zo, MLE, LLE

[BFRESH44]

I will be beyond pissed if we passed on Michael Beasley for anything short of getting an established star in his prime. If we could get Elton Brand or Carlos Boozer + get rid of Blount and Banks, that's cool with me. But anything short of that I will be beyond pissed.

But I'm not even worried about it, because this is Pat Riley. He's not a dummy.

[perz260]

1st thing in my opinion u don't pass on Beasley because of "maybe" in the future u can get another power forward. Who is to say what can happen, Brand hasn't proved he can be healthy for a whole year or that he can approach the same level as before his injury. What happens if next year Utah improves and they go to the final, if Boozer finds success in Utah why would he leave when they can pay him more than anyone? If Riley passes on Beasley and he turns out to be the top player in the draft ( perennial 20plus scorer-10 reb and multiple all star) this would be such a monumental mistake that i don't know how the team could recover. I mean why the hell did we tank if not to get one of the 2 top players in the draft; why were we all nervous on lottery night to see if we got one of the top 2 picks; i remember thinking back before that night trying to convince myself that it wouldn't be the end of the world if we got the 4th pick, that Lopez or Bayless could help the team. That was a bunch of BS, i wanted either beasley or rose on this team, and now we are going to throw away that chance for cap relief or for a ball hog shooting guard? Anybody that saw Mayo at USC saw he was not a true point guard, he looked for his shot 1st and foremost, i rarely saw him set up the offense and attack to get his teammates a better shot. I mean how the hell can u look at last year and say that Mayo was a better player than Beasley?

[BFRESH44]

While we're going to have cap flexiblity it's no LOCK that Brand or Boozer is Miami bound.

If Donald Sterling says forget it, "we have to keep Brand around" and signs off on a max extension before the seasons end(if he's playing well)? I don't see Brand saying no.

Carlos Boozer lives down here in off-season and one would assume there would be interest come next summer, but he's still got a good thing in Utah as is one of the franchise counter part to Deron Williams. The Jazz will without a doubt try to keep him around. Probably will offer near max.

That 6th year of guranteed salary that come with full bird rights is huge.

We have an opptunitny to draft the same caliber player with more upside and we pass up on him for a scoring off-guard(Don't care what anyone says Mayo is not a point guard)?. Doesn't make any sense.

I think it's no secret that Rose was 'the guy' for most inside the organization, but seriously Beasley is the real deal.

[BBallFreak]

I cannot see being pissed about taking Mayo. If he's the guy, he's the guy.

BFRESH44, a lot of people freaked out the last time we had a high pick. It was pointless. They clearly took a pretty good player. you have to trust them to do it again...

[BFRESH44]

This draft in particular though, it's very easy to see though that they're two players whom clearly have a ceiling that the others don't.


We're in one heck of a unique posistion, and it's pretty much easy to captalize. Just pick the 'leftover'.

But again, not worried. Riles is no dummy.

[BBallFreak]

This draft in particular though, it's very easy to see though that they're two players whom clearly have a ceiling that the others don't.


We're in one heck of a unique posistion, and it's pretty much easy to captalize. Just pick the 'leftover'.

But again, not worried. Riles is no dummy.

Who's to say though that Mayo's ceiling isn't just as high?

Who are you listening to; Chad Ford, Jonathan Giovony (no offense, Cheez), or Pat Riley?

[perz260]

The only reason i would accept from Riley that they pick Mayo is because he believes that he is the better player, and on their board he is rated as the second best player and all the coaches and scouts agreed on their assessment of him. Not that he can contribute more quickly or that he has gotten chummy with Wade in Chicago, or worse they feel he can "become" a point guard and we already have Haslem so it was a greater need. I believe u draft the best player available period. If Riley passes on Beasley and he becomes a superstar and a better player than Mayo and it was common knowledge that he was considered a better prospect how can u tell me u wont be pissed at taking Mayo.

[miamiballer]

prediction:

Miami's draft board runs three deep

1. rose
2. beasley
3. mayo

though i disagree as i think beasley is 1 but its ok

I think Miami will take beasley at # 2 and wait to see who min picks...if minn takes mayo, then miami just keeps beasley and calls it a day

if minn passes and mayo falls to mem, then miami would try to trade blount, banks, # 2 to mem for # 5 (mayo), miller, lowry, collins

so in effect i think that there is no way we take mayo at 2 and if minn takes mayo, beasley is ours, if not, then we may possibly get mayo

i think miami is paying a lot of attention to mayo because they know what they are getting w/ beasley and want to make sure mayo is worth it

[miami heat 28]

yeah...i gree w/you lane 1974
that we are targeting a power forward in 2009 brand or boozer
and that is the reason why we should get mayo.

we just have to wait a year.

we will have a great lineup.

pg.mayo
sg.wade
sf.marion
pf.haslem
c.brand(we can get away with it in the east until we find a center.

anyways lane 1974 d.wade is my favorite player but im just frustraded
with his injuries and worried that he may not ever be the same again
that is why i was tempted and posting about trading him.
maybe all these rumors will push wade to become even better than before
my faith in wade has come back.

[perz260]

BBallFreak forgetting what Ford wrote at ESPN, i want your opinion. Did u see both players play last year. Did u see their tournament game against each other? Who do u think is the better player, who in your opinion has the most talent and upside to become a franchise player?

[BFRESH44]

Freak, My observations are made from my own personal watching of these kids. I watch a load of college ball.

Mayo did his thing at USC, and can be a good player on the next level, but he's not on Rose or Beasley's level. That simple.

His explosion off the bounce is not that great. I mean he has a very average first step.

He can stroke it from 3, and has a good feel for the game. But he's no point guard either. He's an off guard with some decent playmaking abiliy.

If we don't pick either Beasley or Rose, or either got some no brainer compensation for trading down(I'm taking a star post player right now in his prime, and they're aren't even that many of those)...We lose.

But that's me.

[miamiballer]

i agree w/ bfresh

we have a chance to get a 19 yr old future superstar

why trade that away, just take the left over of rose or beasley...come on riley, its that simple!

[perz260]

I couldn't agree with you more, just based on my observation and i am no professional scout Beasley was the more impressive prospect last year. Mayo would have been fine as a consolation pick if we didn't get into the top 2 but to draft him ahead of Beasley? Maybe I am wrong and this is a repeat of the 2003 draft were wade turned out to be the second best player and better than anthony, which i admit i didn't see happening based on their college career. But Wade was way more impressive than Mayo that year, leading his team to the final four, and having that monster game against Kentucky.

[GameTime_3]

BBallFreak forgetting what Ford wrote at ESPN, i want your opinion. Did u see both players play last year. Did u see their tournament game against each other? Who do u think is the better player, who in your opinion has the most talent and upside to become a franchise player?

I'm No BBallFreak, But i could give you a couple of answers.The USC vs Kstate is not a game to go on because they really didnt guard each other and both were being asked to do something else. Beasley has all the tools to be a Dirk type player but some fear that his height(He measured out pretty good) will hold him back. Mayo on the other hand, Measured out about what everyone thought(6"4). Mayo has a Superior Jump shot and handles but some people think he is a big time tweener. Overall, I think Beasley is the superior player and has more talent now(You cant predict the Future).Beasley is more NBA Ready, IS is build for the long hall, While i really like Mayo, I still question his PG skills. Overall, I think Beasley will be the best player in this draft and ill go on to say that if Beasley, would of come out and been 6"10 he would of been 1st Overall.

Beasleys---

Worst Case-- Lamar Odom/Glen Robinson-------14ppg-8rbs
Best Case--- Dirk/David West------22-10-5

Mayo

Worst Case--- Ben Gordan/Jamal Crawford----- 12.5ppg-4rbs
Best Case---- Gilbert Arenas/Baron Davis-------21ppg-4rbs

[perz260]

I agree with u, and about the height issue if Beasley had graded out as 6-10 without shoes then i think he goes number 1 as historically big guys go early. I still think he hasn't finished growing, heck he is only 19. Dorrell grew an inch after being drafted, if the same thing happens with beasley then he is 6-10 in shoes, and the height issue is moot.

[miamiballer]

keep in mind that players are listed at heights w/ shoes on and are rounded up...beasley is 6'8 1/2...hell be listed at 6'9...the same height as a guy like boozer

and thats not even taking into account that beasley may grow an extra inch