Draft talk

Since all the manufactured talk of Shaquille O’Neal getting traded is utterly ridiculous, I’m just going to go ahead and move on to the next step in the Heat’s recovery process from the 2006-07 season, and that’s the draft. I’m gonna take a look at a different guy projected to be in the Heat’s first-round range (No. 20). I’ll start with the more familiar names, move to the more unknown ones, then get to some reaches that might be worth stretching out for (this, of course, is all assuming Riles doesn’t trade the pick by the time you’ve read this).

I’ll start with Josh McRoberts of Duke, just because one of the better known draft websites has the Heat taking him at No. 20 as of today…

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McRoberts: 20-year-old power forward, 6-10, 240, two years at Duke.

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Strengths: The kid is sick athletic. He did a reverse-360 windmill (a dunk that was one of Vince Carter’s most memorable in the 2000 dunk contest) at the McDonald’s dunk contest as an 18-year-old. He finished second to Gerald Green in that contest (not a bad guy to be a runner-up to).

.. He's lefty, which always throws defenders off... As much as I hate comparing a white player to another white player (it just seems too convenient), I think he’s very much like David Lee of the Knicks. He can be a beast on the boards because of his quick leaping ability, he is a great finisher and he is a hell of a passer for a big guy. McRoberts actually called Lee his favorite dunker when he was in high school, and Lee won the McDonald’s dunk contest about six years back (but I will forever contend that James White got robbed that year)... McRoberts might actually be better than Lee because he is such a good ball-handler for his size. He went behind the back twice, with no extra dribbles in between, in the open court on a fast break against Georgia Tech.

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Weaknesses: Not a great post-up player, which really won’t matter too much on the right team because he’s more of an opportunistic scorer (again, like David Lee, who averaged a double-double this year and shot 60 percent from the floor)… Might have trouble guarding the better power forwards in the league, but seriously, I just saw Tim Duncan have his way with Amare Stoudemire, so it’s safe to say that guarding the better power forwards should be more of a team effort anyway… Gets a bit too emotional, supposedly, when things aren’t going his way. But that’s because he was supposed to be “the guy” in Duke, so he won’t feel nearly as much pressure at the pro level… He is a Dukie, so he did cry once on the bench (like, covering-his-face-with-a-towel-and-shaking crying, not just a few tears coming out his eyes), and, like most Dukies, he might be a little on the Charmin side… Not much of a game outside 15 feet, but he can find the open man from out there, and he can take his guy off the dribble to create for himself or someone else.

Would I draft him if I was the Heat? Absolutely, even if it means an entire summer of Udonis Haslem trade rumors.

Comments

[Chris]

I agree that McRoberts is their best bet at #20. The Heat doesn't have the luxury of time to spend grooming a rookie point guard and there doesn't seem to be any quality small forwards with enough college experience to be able to come in and contribute right away (ie - I like Thaddeus Young, but he's at least two years away from being a solid contributor). Dorrell Wright deserves a longer look at that position anyway. If he improves on this year, he could make a huge impact on the team in 07-08.

[Choke-Dirk-Choke]

I like Rush from Kansas...Brandon Rush i think
Solid defense and attacks with speed...didn't riley say he was gonna add some speed to next year's team?
I also like A.C. Law from Texas A&M...great point guard who just carried the team on his back last year...truly a gamebreaker
But i think he'll be gone by the 20th pick...maybe we could trade up 4 or 5 spots

[David]

Well, I'm not a college basketball expert, so I don't know who else could still be there at 20 who could be better. However, I'm impressed after watching some clips of him on youtube.

If there's a point gaurd there who we feel could be good for us, I wouldn't mind going in that direction.

If not, adding someone who's as big and athletic as this kid probably wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Manny]

The Heat need to move up and grab Acie Law IV

We have needed a point guard since Shaq arrived. Acie can pass score hit the 3 and plays sick D-fense.

But the ????? is does it really matter who we draft if Riley sits him on the bench.

[Dave]

Riles will not sit him on the bench if he can play. Riley played Worthy, Scott, and a lot of other guys who were good when they were rookies. He also started butler, don't forget caron was a rookie under riley. If the guy can play, he will. But riley won't play a guy based purely on potential, which is what some of you guys are probably hoping.

[pouchi]

The heat need to take the best guy avaliable at the 20th pick.Get some good free agents and make the trade necessary.

[merritt islandhs footballplayer]

i think they should try to trade zo, g.p. earl baron,doleac,employee number8, to move up some spots in the draft, portland are in needs for some vets, such as other teams that are in front of us in the draft, but if we cant i would love to have ace law, texas am, he gives people the bizness , he's the real deal, come on texas a.m .in the ncaa tourney that shows you something, but if we cant ge him, go for conley jr, ohio st, great guard, great penetrator, who can score also , great addittion for wade, kapono, jones, posey and j-will for knocken down those 3's. since are guards are always injured during the season, if thats not the case, go for , b rush, univ of kansas,big slasher , glen baby davis,lsu, versatile player who lost a ton of weght or b. wright of UNC, great shot blocker great for shaq if foul trouble, the options are out ther lets see if they can seize that oppurtunity!!!