DRAFT DAY TALK!

[Wade2k6]

I will be there tonight with my Beasley jersey, Riley better not make me look bad.

Select B-Easy and let Miami sleep easy!

Gotta go with a sign and say

"Riley read this: 'Losing makes me strong, but winning makes me invincible.' - B-Easy "

[HeatSince88]

We're one of them, San Antonio, Dallas, and New Orleans are the others. (Portland may be added to this list soon.)

Dallas traded for Kidd, Stack, Damp, Terry, and others.
- You can say "Well they drafted Nowitzki" before trading for all those other guys. (Although they didn't - he was traded for as well). But the Heat can likewise say "We drafted Wade" before trading for what we have or might get.

New Orleans traded for Chandler and signed Stojakovic. Before that they went nowhere, even with Chris Paul.
- You can say "But they drafted Chris Paul" before making those trades and signings, just like we can say ""We drafted Wade" before doing so.

San Antonio obviously lucked out with a no-brainer pick in Duncan. Without him, they're not even .500. Beasley is no Tim Duncan, by the way, so this isn't even a comparison to our situation right now. They also got extraordinarily lucky with Parker and Ginobli, whereas our best attempts with Dorell, Simien, and Cook have not produced such luck, just like 99% of the league in that pick range. Pretty much their entire squad beyond no-brainer Duncan and two ultra-lucky picks was traded for or signed.

What about the other 26 teams in the league? Celtics? Lakers? Cavs? Pistons? Suns? Jazz? Rockets? Orlando? Washington? Toronto? Philly? Atlanta? Denver? And so forth?Those were ALL playoff teams (including Finals teams) and EACH has maybe one impact guy they got in the draft like we already have Wade .... the rest of their squads or mostly traded for or signed. Garnett, R-Allen, Gasol, Odom, Billups, R-Wallace, Hamilton, Shaq, Nash, Hill, Boozer, Okur, Turkoglu, R-Lewis, Arenas, Jamison, C-Butler, A-Miller, J-Johnson, Iverson, Camby, etc. Did these teams not know what they were doing? They must have - they were all in the playoffs.

And what about all the teams that just "draft, draft, draft" and never go anywhere? That describes most of the teams in the lottery this year. Where are the Bulls, Wolves, Sonics, Grizzlies, Bobcats, Bucks and all the other perennial do-nothings from your analysis? These teams have "built" through the draft more than any others. And they will do so again this year, but of course expect a different result somehow.

You chose the three best examples you could find to support your position, and they're still not much different from the Heat drafting Wade, then finding him complements via trade and free agency.

I'm not against building thru the draft, but your point ignores TONS of teams who have one impact player they drafted and built around, while also omitting the BEST examples of teams who build through the draft like you're suggesting (mostly losing teams).

[Lane1974]

+100

[Miami's Finest]

New Orleans traded for Chandler and signed Stojakovic. Before that they went nowhere, even with Chris Paul.
- You can say "But they drafted Chris Paul" before making those trades and signings, just like we can say ""We drafted Wade" before doing so.

New Orleans 2 All-Stars were from the draft West and Paul. Dallas and San Antonio also have more than one all-star through the draft and was primarily the reason for them being good. We are in a unique position of having a superstar player that won a title but b/c of injuries we are at the top of the draft able to land a player that dominated college ball like very few ever have. I agree with you that completing a roster through veterans is the way to go but I think passing on a star like Beasley for Brand would be a huge mistake (I would love to get him for Marion or sign him outright but not pass on the chance to stabilize our teams core with a potential 20 year old superstar). Then with our core of Wade/Beasley/Marion (or another all-star) we can build our team through trades with veterans to fill in the complimentary pieces or add other impact players like we did with Marion which is what those other teams you mentioned did. If we're giving up on Beasley just to better suited to contend next season by 2010 we would need to find a new running mate for Wade b/c Brand would be entering the downside of his prime and we still have his contract on our hands.

[heat4life]

I think what HeatSince88 is trying to say is that you get your building block(s) from the draft and then you build your depth via trades or FA with veterans. San Antonio doesn't win a championship without their veteran depth, Dallas is not a perenial playoff contender without Stack and the rest of their depth, same with Phoenix, Boston etc..

I believe about the only exception to this rule (ironic) was how Riley built the Heat back in 95. He traded for Zo and started from there. Not once did he use a draft pick. Then again, back in those days there were no contracts limitations or luxury tax in a very flexible salary cap. It is more challenging to build a team in today league than back in 95 IMO.

[Phenom03]

Well, Clippers just traded #7 and 1st round pick in 2009 to the Sonics for the 4th overall pick. I don't know if this ends the trade rumors with LAC or makes them stronger.

[Lane1974]

Well, Clippers just traded #7 and 1st round pick in 2009 to the Sonics for the 4th overall pick. I don't know if this ends the trade rumors with LAC or makes them stronger.

send a link
and you raise a great question

[SJ2100]

Well, Clippers just traded #7 and 1st round pick in 2009 to the Sonics for the 4th overall pick. I don't know if this ends the trade rumors with LAC or makes them stronger.

I don't think they can do that until after they pick, otherwise the Clippers would have traded their 1st rounder in consecutive years, which is a no-no.

[jaseda510]

reading d-wade rumors on the bulls forum causes brain damage

[heatfan1525]

Just saw it on the bottem line while watching the euro match.

It showed this list of picks and next to the Sonics and Clippers names it showed (Proposed trade: ect.)

[Trade Ideas]

Well, Clippers just traded #7 and 1st round pick in 2009 to the Sonics for the 4th overall pick. I don't know if this ends the trade rumors with LAC or makes them stronger.

I don't think they can do that until after they pick, otherwise the Clippers would have traded their 1st rounder in consecutive years, which is a no-no.

Well, did they trade their 2010 first rounder?

Because, if I recall correctly, a team can trade first rounders in consecutive years as long as they still have a first round pick (doesn't have to be theirs).

[SA37]

You chose the three best examples you could find to support your position, and they're still not much different from the Heat drafting Wade, then finding him complements via trade and free agency.

I'm not against building thru the draft, but your point ignores TONS of teams who have one impact player they drafted and built around, while also omitting the BEST examples of teams who build through the draft like you're suggesting (mostly losing teams).

Dallas drafted its core, which is Nowitzki and Howard.

San Antonio drafted all 4 of its core pieces in their championship runs (Robinson, Duncan, Parker and Ginobili)

New Orleans drafted its core (West and Paul) and added Chander via trade and Peja via free agency.

Miami drafted its core (Wade and Butler) and then added Odom via free agency, which eventually turned to Shaq.

I mean, if you really want, you can add Cleveland, Denver, Orlando, Toronto, and Houston to the list, as their franchises matter because of LeBron, Carmelo, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, and Yao Ming, respectively.

If Portland continues to grow and doesn't slip, ala the Bulls last year, you'll add them to the list. If the Bulls recover, you can add them to the list.

And then you have 11 out of 30 teams. That's a good chunk of the team whose most important players have come from the draft.

I can't help it if other teams don't always draft well or aren't lucky enough to be in a position to draft a star. We got lucky, with Wade falling into our lap at 5 in 2003 and now we're in position again to possibly be able to pick an ultra-talented player who could have the kind of effect I talked about with the teams above.

The Grizzlies and Clippers have drafted terribly pretty consistently. Chicago took steps back by dealing Elton Brand for a a high schooler (it was either Curry or Chandler, I forget who). Atlanta just passed on Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

It's no different than teams spending money on a free agent who doesn't work out like expected (see: Eddie Jones, Brian Grant, Erick Dampier, Juwan Howard, Jamal Crawford, Rashard Lewis, Wally Sczcerbiak, Theo Ratliff, Raef LaFrentz, Brian Cardinal, Mark Blount, Bobby Simmons...etc). There is a reason the league is FULL of crap player with unreal contracts.

So, you see, there are teams who get shots at great players and there are teams who pass on great players. Elton Brand, Mike Miller, Chis Wilcox, Jeryd Bayless, OJ Mayo...etc None of these guys are stars. None. None are projected to be franchise players.

But Beasley is. And we're gonna pass on him, for what, again?

[Miami's Finest]

This is what Chad Ford said in his mock... so it looks like Mayo or Gordon will be their pick.

The Clippers have been trying to move up in the draft to get Mayo or Gordon. There's a chance they can pull it off if the Wolves or Sonics are willing to bet that the guy they are targeting (see above) will be available at No. 7. If those teams are open to a deal, the Clippers are willing to trade a future first-round pick to move up. As it turns out, it appears Love will be available at No. 7 -- and Lopez, too, if the Clippers move to No. 4.

[Mourning_Heat_33]

This seems to be the great debate revolving around this draft pick-

Option 1: Win now! Move down a few spots, obtain some veterans and compete right now, but giving up on drafting Beasley (maybe Mayo).

Option 2: Wait! Or we could draft Beasley (maybe Mayo), work with the team we'd have this year with Wade, Haslem, Marion and others (Mourning if he resigns, Wright, Banks and Blount). And then sign someone big with cap space in 2009 or 2010.

The more I think about it, the more I lean towards winning now. I believe Beasley is going to be a beast, and put up similar number that he did in college 25 ppg 12 rpg. But he is 19. And this goes for Rose as well. By the time either of these guys come into their own, let's give it 3 seasons, Wade will be 29, pushing 30. Yikes, right? Best case scenario, let's say LeBron James-time frame, it takes them 3 years to turn those absurd stats into wins. Can we wait for that? I fear we might have another Shaq/Wade situation. It might get us an eventual championship, but the age difference came back to bite us hard. And one championship is all that might get us.

In which case, I'd prefer a 3-team deal, Miami moves down to the 7th pick, but gets Elton Brand, Mike Miller, Jason Collins. Drafts one of the PGs like Westbrook of Augustin maybe Bayless (plz). Miami gives up all-star Marion to the Clippers, who get the Grizzlies 5th pick, Marion and Daquan Cook. The Grizzlies get our coveted pick along with Blount and Banks.

Miami resigns Mourning. Maybe throw some money at Dooling for a couple of years.

Now we are looking at a team of
Bayless/Dooling/Quinn
Wade/Dooling/Wright
Miller/Wright/random NBDL guy we signed last season
Brand/Haslem
Mourning/Collins/Anthony

Come 2010, our team might be looking like
Bayless 3 mil, under contract
Wade 16 mil, resigned
Brand 15 mil, under contract
Haslem 5 mil, resigned
Miller 5 mil, resigned

Mourning likely retired at this point. Collins not resigned. Miller and Wright not resigned (yet).
We'll be looking at a 60 mil cap space. And about 15 or 16 mil in cap space. More if we don't resign Miller right off the bat. LeBron James is a FA. Amare is a FA. We might be able to make something happen with a pretty ridiculous team hungry for a title.

Miami deserves a LOT for this pick. Which is why I think we should be able to get an All Star player and another couple solid veterans, especially since we'd be giving up Marion (an All Star), as well. We could rebuild now and still be in position for a huge 2010 and long-lasting success.

[Horok11]

yea watching the euro too and saw that. cant find it anywhere and it says proposed next to it though.

[Lane1974]

it was on the ESPN news bottom line
4th for 7th

[Miami's Finest]

A team with Wade/ Marion/ Beasley can and should be a win now approach as well but also sets us up better for the future (2010 cap space and a great young star to take the torch from Wade when hes done), and I think any move we make this roster will still need a year of tweaking before contending for a title. We can make trades to get a PG for Haslem, add Pietrus though trade or sign a C like Diop.

[Horok11]

There has to be something else involved no? 4th for 7th straight up doesn't make sense unless the Seattle owner is trying to dick them over again.

[SJ2100]

Wow I can't believe the Sonics moved down for that cheap. Still trying to figure out how this affects their draft/trade plans...

[heatfan1525]

There has to be something else involved no? 4th for 7th straight up doesn't make sense unless the Seattle owner is trying to dick them over again.

Seattle got a future 1st round pick as well.