Draft week

Was watching a draft special on TV Friday and realized a few things.
The first thing has nothing to do with the special, but was more of an annual realization I come to just before the Heat makes a first-round draft pick. Regardless of need, they're taking the best player on their draft board when they pick at No. 20. We saw them do it with Dwyane when they presumably had a good two-guard in Eddie Jones, they did it with Dorell when they needed a point guard desperately and they did it with Wayne when it seemed he was much like Udonis Haslem.
What that means is it's impossible to predict who the heck the Heat will draft on Thursday because, first, they're at the mercy of the teams making 19 selections before them, and second, because position of need really means nothing here. They'll fill those spots with veterans through free agency or trades.

So back to the special. After watching that and going through a handful of mock drafts, I've come to the conclusion that there will be at least one of these six guys available when the Heat picks at 20, and I think any one of them will be a solid pick-up for the Heat (I'm also convinced that I am among the 15 percent of basketball fans in the country who could do a better job with player personnel decisions than, say, Danny Ainge or Kevin McHale):
Rodney Stuckey, because he could be this year's Gilbert Arenas, a scorer who slips in the draft.
Josh McRoberts, because his back problems and conditioning (didn't look in the greatest of shape when I saw him in Orlando).
Javaris Crittendon, because he's raw and there are more polished point guards that will be taken ahead of him.
Thaddeus Young, because he just seems to be slipping.
Derrick Byars, just because.
And Petteri Kopponen, who's not really considered a top 20 pick, but I like what I've read about him and think he could be this year's foreign-born point guard steal (plus, if the Heat re-signs Kapono, it'll make for fun name games).

Two guys who I didn't think much of until I saw this special were Jason Smith, the Colorado State big man, and Morris Almond of Rice (heck, I didn't even realize Rice was in Conference USA these days). Don't think Almond's scoring can really translate to the NBA if he had to create for himself, but on a team with Dwyane and Shaq, he wouldn't be required to create much. And Smith is more athletic that I realized and knows how to play the game well enough that he can be a quality 7-footer in the league.

Update: After a conversation with someone whose opinion I respect, I have changed my opinion altogether on Josh McRoberts. Charmin has no place in the NBA.

Comments

[Shawn Cooper]

crossing my fingers for Crittendon or Stuckey. we need a second scorer or a PG that can get to the hole...

9/11 was an inside job, research it and know the truth- www.wtc7.net

[pouchi]

we don't need a ready to play in the draft this year. We need a good solide PG that can learn for a year behind J.Will like Javaris Crittendon and make the upgrade needed from the free agent or trade.

[dudley]

im all for crittendon or thaddeus young but i guy who intrigues me is sean williams a bonafide shot blocker who if chosen can step in right away at power forward if da heat really does trade haslem, check him out in the yahoo nba draft section he would be the minister of defense for years to come an with shaq an alonzo mourning as ur mentors how could u go wrong then in the second we should look at takin wilson chandler,jared dudley (no relation),or almond all who should be available at 39

[Esteban]

i like all the guys mentioned besides McRoberts. He's soft and doesn't have a great shot (not a good combo). One guy that I wouldn't mind seeing picked would be Alando Tucker. An European transplant could be a good idea like Rudy Fernandez or Marco something or other from Italy since they have so much experience already. Could probably come in and provide some decent minutes.

[Paul]

Resign Posey and trade him with Walker, J-Will's expiring contract and 20th pick to SAC for Mike Bibby. Resign Kapono and EJ. Players like Alando Tucker and Aaron Brooks should be available at 39th.

[J David]

Well, from what I understand, we are extremely likely to trade the pick anyways... I feel like we need players that will impact our team now; before Shaq sails off into the sunset.

[mike]

who we draft is anybodies guess.

secondly, the "911 truth" is a bunch of BS. But if it so happens to be the "truth" there really is no good that can come from it but a chaotic society.

I'd rather live in a peaceful/safe environment and be in denial then know the "truth" and live in a world of chaos.

Get better soon Wade, the Heat misses ya.

[Shawn Cooper]

Mike my man, you are in a world of chaos. and living in denial is your choice...

[Vlad]

Old age and a hole at the PG slot are just issues the heat have to deal with..theyre not the teams PROBLEM. The problem here is predictability. This team is isnt exactly keeping anyone guessing with the
'pick at 20 or look at free agency" route. Sign and trade kapono along with the 20th pick, or instead of kapono PLEASE Mr. Riley find a way to get antoine walker off of this team and MOVE UP in the draft. Lets go big..lets get conley or someone who can help move this team 2 steps forward instead of the half step backwards our team takes when we put players like walker on the floor who for the life of me i cannot understand why is getting paid to play on the heat, or kapono who cant get a shot for himself. Does anyone else realize how counter productive these players are? am i really the only one?

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

If Sean Williams drops to 20 I think we should grab him at 20 and then grab Dowdell at 39. That would be an ideal draft for the Heat in my eyes. We are going to need a shotblocker in here very soon. We don't know whether or not Zo is going to retire and who would be our second best shotblocker after Shaq? Dorrell?

[miamidad]

The other local paper said the heat may have made a deal with Pruitt if he is available at twenty. He wouldn't be so bad... 6' 4" point guard, quick first step, shoot the three...

[Big Dee Chi-Born]

If LA can get a deal done with Indy to send JO to LA and Odom and Bynum to Indy I think we should look to steal Odom who doesn't want to go to Indy. We can send Indy our 20th pick, JWill's expiring contact and Doleac's expiring contract. Now if the Pacers want us to take on Tinsley's contract we could just send them Walker, JWill and the 20th pick or Haslem, JWill, Doleac and the 20th pick. Then we could just look to draft another point guard at #39. Of course Riley would look to sign another vet because of Tinsley's fragility but I think I would make that deal to get Odom back.

[ARay]

There is a lot of speculation on what the Heat will actually do. As someone mentioned that the Heat have been drafting players in the some mode as they already have, and that certainly will not work this year. Any rumors out there about trades? In my opinion, Udonis Haslem is really the only current Heat that other teams would be interested in.