Heat Draft Lottery Party/What questions do you have heading into the lottery? (UPDATED)
For those of you that live in South Florida, the Heat announced it will host a Draft Lottery Party on Tuesday May 20 from 6-9 p.m. at AmericanAirlines Arena. It might be premature to call it a party because the Heat only has a 25 percent chance of landing the top pick and a 46.5 percent chance of getting a top- two pick. In any case, admission to the party is free.
You'll be able to watch the broadcast of the NBA Draft Lottery on the jumbotron. The Heat just confirmed that Dwyane Wade will be representing the Heat in the lottery, which is being held in Seacaucus, NJ.
Heat players are scheduled to make appearances and do live interviews with the team's play-by-play announcer Eric Reid.
With the lottery eight days away, what questions do you have about the Heat heading into the lottery? If you leave your questions below, I'll try to answer as many of them as I can in the next few days. (UPDATE: I've answered the first batch of questions, so just scroll down to the comments section and I'll continue doing that if you have more questions.)
Download your 'Fins iPhone application
How great of a need do Seattle, Minnesota, or Memphis have for a PG? Do they have a greater need at PF? Thanks.
Posted by: Martos | May 12, 2008 at 05:31 PM
Is there some way we can cheat or trade people to get 1 and 2 (let's say we give up Marion and bunch of other stuff. Wade, Beasley, Rose, Haslem, Wright, parts. Would that be enough?
Posted by: Phillip | May 12, 2008 at 06:20 PM
maybe spolestra can ressurrect eddy curry, and they need a pg> maybe a sign and trade for jwill? at worse case, curry learns from zo? I want them to go after Brand or okafor, perfect if we get rose or mayo or bayless. add marion,dwade, and thats a finals team
Posted by: dom | May 12, 2008 at 07:06 PM
My question at the bottom.
I'm not all that concerned with WHO we get in the first round. Doubt if we fall to #4....so it will be one of our top 3 choices. Beasley, Rose, Mayo...any of them will make us better.
Personally, I know this opinion is not popular....but Haslem was the Captain of a 15 win team. Sorry...but there is a HUGE difference between a LEADER and a role model.(i.e...Dirk Novitski) UD is our great role model (work ethic) but UD just aint no leader. I have always liked his hustle, but he seemed to lose A TON of his luster last year. His offense was not reliable..and he just seemed lost in the shuffle. How does that happen exactly....to the CAPTAIN of an NBA team? He's not CAPTAIN material....maybe more like 1st or 2nd Mate. Time for him to be traded for another pick in the 1st round or a quality PG ??? For me, it's time.....IMHO
I also am kinda interested in the 2nd round. Do we have a pick in the 2nd, and if so, which pick ?
Posted by: HeatFan in Iowa | May 12, 2008 at 08:06 PM
Is Bayless the real deal?
If we get #4, can we move it in a package for a star like a carmello or howard (on the mavs) or can we offer something else to get one of those guys.
Should we touch the top rated center in the draft?
Should we just take the best player available or draft for need?What if Mayo is all we have - do we grab him?
Posted by: heat2007 | May 12, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Should we end up with the #3 or #4 pick, are we more likely to use the pick or deal it?
Posted by: David | May 13, 2008 at 01:25 AM
What chance is ther on getting another pick in the 10-12 range. Maybe pick up Deandre Jordan with Beasley or Rose.
Posted by: JRincon | May 13, 2008 at 04:09 AM
Q: How great of a need do Seattle, Minnesota, or Memphis have for a PG? Do they have a greater need at PF? Thanks.Posted by: Martos | May 12, 2008 at 05:31 PM
A: Martos, Seattle, Memphis and the Knicks would be likely to draft Derrick Rose if they got the top pick, so the Heat's best-case scenario would be to get the top overall pick. But the thing to keep in mind is that Jerryd Bayless would be available if the Heat picked third, and he might be around No. 4 depending on the draft order. Rose is getting tons of hype but Bayless is supposed to be a great prospect too, and who is to say which will be a better pro.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:05 AM
maybe spolestra can ressurrect eddy curry, and they need a pg> maybe a sign and trade for jwill? at worse case, curry learns from zo? I want them to go after Brand or okafor, perfect if we get rose or mayo or bayless. add marion,dwade, and thats a finals team
Posted by: dom | May 12, 2008 at 07:06 PM
A: Dom, at this point I don't think Eddy Curry would be a Heat target. Erik Spoelstra has said he wants to run an up-tempo offense and Curry wouldn't be a good fit, so it's hard to conceive the Heat trying to trade for him. The Heat isn't likely to have much cap space this offseason unless Shawn Marion opts out of the final year of his contract. Marion is owed more than $17 million next season so don't count on him walking away from that. Okafor and Brand aren't in the picture for free agency this summer because of the Heat's lack of space room. Pat Riley has said the goal is to have much more cap space for summer 2009 so the team can go after big-name free agents.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Q: I also am kinda interested in the 2nd round. Do we have a pick in the 2nd, and if so, which pick ?
Posted by: HeatFan in Iowa | May 12, 2008 at 08:06 PM
A: The Heat has No. 52 in the second round thanks to Orlando giving Miami compensation for signing Stan Van Gundy.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Q: Is Bayless the real deal?
If we get #4, can we move it in a package for a star like a carmello or howard (on the mavs) or can we offer something else to get one of those guys.
Should we touch the top rated center in the draft?
Should we just take the best player available or draft for need?What if Mayo is all we have - do we grab him?
Posted by: heat2007 | May 12, 2008 at 10:15 PM
A: Bayless is highly touted. He didn't get as much exposure in the NCAA Tournament, since Arizona lost in the first round. Draft experts rave about him but question how much he will make his teammates better, saying he is more of a shoot-first PG. One one draft website raves about his speed, tremendous leaping ability, magnificent pull-up jumper, has a great basketball IQ and all the tools to become a special player in the NBA. Don't expect the Heat to package whoever it drafts in a trade for Carmelo or Josh Howard. Unless the Heat decides it really won't be better with whoever it drafts, there is a good shot the Heat will keep its draft pick. Remember the Heat needs to improve at center and point guard in particular. While this draft is the Beasley-Rose sweepstakes, experts are saying there are some great players to be had at the three and four spots. Mayo fits with the Heat only if the team sees him becoming a point guard because its got Dwyane Wade at shooting guard.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:28 AM
Q: Should we end up with the #3 or #4 pick, are we more likely to use the pick or deal it?
Posted by: David | May 13, 2008 at 01:25 AM
A: I think there's a good shot the Heat would use the No. 3 or No. 4 pick because the team has needs for a point guard or center. Of course, the Heat could end up making a trade after drafting someone (the team cannot trade the pick before drafting a player) if it got the right deal. There is a drop-off after Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose, but there are some great talents expected to be chosen at No. 3 and No. 4. The Heat is aiming for the playoffs next season but president Pat Riley wants to rebuild in a way that the team can win now and be in good shape for the future, so don't expect the team to mortgage the future for the present like the Celtics did last draft.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Q: What chance is ther on getting another pick in the 10-12 range. Maybe pick up Deandre Jordan with Beasley or Rose.
Posted by: JRincon | May 13, 2008 at 04:09 AM
A: The Heat doesn't get a pick in the 10-12 range unless it makes a draft night trade, and if it does the team probably would lose whichever player it drafted No. 1-4. It would be nice if the Heat could get Rose/Beasley and another player in the lottery but at this point the odds look slim. All of this could change on draft night, as we've seen major trades occur.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Who do the heat really want?
Would they seriously take Rose over Beasley?
Posted by: Mikey B | May 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Any chance the Heat trades Marion and another player for Jermaine Oneal? I know Riley wants to create cap space for 2009 but if we got Oneal we would have cap space in 2010, the year D-Wade, Lebron, Bosh, and Amare will most likely opt out of their contracts and become FAs. Plus Oneal is a mobile big men who I think would fit in an up tempo offense that Spoelstra wants to run
Posted by: Jorge | May 13, 2008 at 12:26 PM
I agree with Jorge...I would rather have cap space in 2010, because we can resign D wade and Lure lebron in to play with D wade, talk about a dynamic duo, I mean Lebron would love the bright lights and the beaches in miami, with hall of famer Pat Riley at the helm and Spolestra a young energetic coach who lebron would appreciate not putting all of the burden on him, 2010 is much better than 2009...
My question is don't you think the heat would be better off fradting derrick rose and making a trade using some of its own free agents for okafor?
Leaving the heat with a line up of
rose
wade
marion
haslem
okafor
That is one hell of a starting line up...Am I wrong?
Posted by: JC | May 13, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Have you heard anything about LSU F Anthony Randolph?
I have heard people compare him to Tyson Chandler with more offensive skill (15ft jumper). If the heat goes uptempo and can't find a PG, it seems they would need someone who can run and jump well, is long, and can block shots and fill the lane in transition. Maybe Randolph fits that better than Lopez?
Posted by: Dan G. | May 13, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Have you guys talked to anyone about Brook Lopez? What's the deal with him? Is he legit, or is he a bust waiting to happen. My gut says we will get the 3rd pick and take him and I am on the fence about him. He seems like he can fit the need here, but he also doesn't really blow me away like Rose or Beasley.
Posted by: tedhill | May 13, 2008 at 03:08 PM
Heres my question even know you mightve touched on it already..
Q: if we end up with the #3 or #4 pick, are guys like Mayo, Bayless, and Lopez really worth it?
I mean Mayo seems like a pretty good player but he plays SG like d-wade..not to0 mention we have a developing D. Cook off the bench...so that doesnt help us.
Bayless seems too mcuh of a scoring PG to help us. Yeah we need offense, but we also need a playmaker, someone who can set other guys up and give them easy baskets.
And finally Lopez...yeah he turned out to be a pretty good Center and going through a pretty good run with Stanford, but can he really immediately impact a team like the HEAT?
Thankz
Posted by: Danny | May 13, 2008 at 04:02 PM
Q: Who do the heat really want?
Would they seriously take Rose over Beasley?
Posted by: Mikey B | May 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM
A: I think the Heat would take Rose over Beasley. Rose is supposed to be a really special point guard, the type that doesn't come around often, and the Heat needs a point guard--especially one that would give the team stability for the foreseeable future. This whole Rose vs. Beasley debate could be for naught. If the Heat winds up with the second pick the team will take whichever one is left. If the Heat gets the third there is a very good chance that Rose is gone. Experts seem to say that Beasley might be the better overall talent but that Rose is a really special prospect, who figures to be an NBA All-Star. Just look at New Orleans and Utah drafting Chris Paul and Deron Williams in 2005. That worked out pretty well.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Q: Who do the heat really want?
Would they seriously take Rose over Beasley?
Posted by: Mikey B | May 13, 2008 at 12:13 PM
A: I think the Heat would take Rose over Beasley. Rose is supposed to be a really special point guard, the type that doesn't come around often, and the Heat needs a point guard--especially one that would give the team stability for the foreseeable future. This whole Rose vs. Beasley debate could be for naught. If the Heat winds up with the second pick the team will take whichever one is left. If the Heat gets the third there is a very good chance that Rose is gone. Experts seem to say that Beasley might be the better overall talent but that Rose is a really special prospect, who figures to be an NBA All-Star. Just look at New Orleans and Utah drafting Chris Paul and Deron Williams in 2005. That worked out pretty well.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Q: Any chance the Heat trades Marion and another player for Jermaine Oneal? I know Riley wants to create cap space for 2009 but if we got Oneal we would have cap space in 2010, the year D-Wade, Lebron, Bosh, and Amare will most likely opt out of their contracts and become FAs. Plus Oneal is a mobile big men who I think would fit in an up tempo offense that Spoelstra wants to run
Posted by: Jorge | May 13, 2008 at 12:26 PM
A: Jorge, if Marion does not opt out of his contract (he's owed more than $17 million next season), I think he is on the Heat next year. It wouldn't make sense for the Heat to trade Marion. Jermaine O'Neal is owed more than $21 million next year. Pat Riley has made a big point that the team does not want to have to pay the luxury tax. The other thing with O'Neal is that he missed about half the season because of a knee injury and has been injury prone the past couple of years, while Marion is usually durable (of course he missed a bunch of games at the end of the season but that is an anamoly). O'Neal will be 30 before next season. Marion just turned 30 but big men tend to age quicker.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 05:38 PM
Q: My question is don't you think the heat would be better off fradting derrick rose and making a trade using some of its own free agents for okafor?
Leaving the heat with a line up of
rose
wade
marion
haslem
okafor
That is one hell of a starting line up...Am I wrong?
Posted by: JC | May 13, 2008 at 01:35 PM
A: JC, it would be a great lineup wouldn't it? Here's the thing. If the Heat were to try to trade for Okafor, who would they give up that Charlotte would want? Even if the team tried to do a sign-and-trade with Ricky Davis, Jason Williams and throw in Daequan Cook and Dorell Wright, it would be hard to see why Charlotte would unload Okafor. I just think it would be tough to swing. The trend has been that players stick with their team when their first contract ends because they can get the most money.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 05:45 PM
Q: Have you heard anything about LSU F Anthony Randolph?
I have heard people compare him to Tyson Chandler with more offensive skill (15ft jumper). If the heat goes uptempo and can't find a PG, it seems they would need someone who can run and jump well, is long, and can block shots and fill the lane in transition. Maybe Randolph fits that better than Lopez?
Posted by: Dan G. | May 13, 2008 at 02:38 PM
A: Draft experts are projecting Randolph to be picked in the 8-10 range, and that he might be better suited as a forward than center in the NBA. Brook Lopez is touted as the better big man and more ready to make the jump to the pros.
Here's on assessment Of Randolph, from one of the draft websites that evaluates the prospects: "A high risk, high reward type pick at this stage of his career. He's got a chance to be special, but in turn a higher than average chance of being a bust as well ... Still very skinny, and may always be on the skinny side ala Tayshaun Prince."
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Q: Have you guys talked to anyone about Brook Lopez? What's the deal with him? Is he legit, or is he a bust waiting to happen. My gut says we will get the 3rd pick and take him and I am on the fence about him. He seems like he can fit the need here, but he also doesn't really blow me away like Rose or Beasley.
Posted by: tedhill | May 13, 2008 at 03:08 PM
A: Just talked to Jay Bilas a little while ago and asked about Lopez. Bilas is high on Lopez as a No. 3 or No. 4 pick. Beasley and Rose are the obvious prizes in this draft but Lopez is expected to be a solid NBA player. He is only a sophomore so he's still developing. He is strong and is supposed to have polished moves, including a great drop step and hook shot. He also is a good rebounder, but his weaknesses are that his shot selection is sometimes questionable, he's not incredible fluid athletically or explosive. At this point, he still is viewed as a consensus pick from 3-5 and the Heat need an upgrade at center so he would fit.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 06:05 PM
The NBA has to keep the lottery system, NBA teams more than any other league can be changed by a single player. Teams already tank at the end of the year when they are eliminated from the playoffs, if they can guarantee the #1 pick, teams will start doing it at the all-star break.
Posted by: jeff | May 13, 2008 at 06:21 PM
Q: if we end up with the #3 or #4 pick, are guys like Mayo, Bayless, and Lopez really worth it?
I mean Mayo seems like a pretty good player but he plays SG like d-wade..not to0 mention we have a developing D. Cook off the bench...so that doesnt help us.
Bayless seems too mcuh of a scoring PG to help us. Yeah we need offense, but we also need a playmaker, someone who can set other guys up and give them easy baskets.
And finally Lopez...yeah he turned out to be a pretty good Center and going through a pretty good run with Stanford, but can he really immediately impact a team like the HEAT?
Thankz
Posted by: Danny | May 13, 2008 at 04:02 PM
A: To avoid repeating what I've already written, please see above response on Lopez. I don't see Mayo fitting in with the Heat because he plays the same position as Wade. Some people are projecting him as a point guard, but that's not his natural position so why take a guy that doesn't exactly fit? Mayo is supposed to be a great pro, but I see the Heat taking Lopez or Bayless rather than Mayo. Bayless is more of a shoot-first point guard, kind of like fellow Arizona guard Gilbert Arenas (Wizards). But Bayless is still supposed to be a solid point guard. He's only a freshman so it's hard to say what his impact would be as a rookie. Lopez had two years in college but also is still developing. I think both could make an impact next year, but it would certainly help to have a solid supporting cast to take some of the pressure off.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 13, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Big thanks to Sarah for answering all these questions, including mine!
Posted by: tedhill | May 13, 2008 at 08:29 PM
rhetorical question: why, as israel gutierrez mentions in his latest column, do nba gms continue to blow so many #1 picks (33% almost-outright busts since 1989) when the nba draft pool is so much smaller than, say, the nfl's -- which would "normally" suggest the likelihood of less major errors in judgement *if* the nba applied as much science as the nfl does to reduce draft blunders?
consider rose and beasley.
i'm pretty sure derrick-rose is *not* franchise material in the same way i was pretty sure the heat would coast to a 40-45 win "title defense" (while "experts" and others predicted 50 or more) and/or 1st-round sweep in october 2006 [1]. but i'm even surer beasley would be the *next big bust* at #1 given the same chattering class of experts who annointed barnagni, bogut, brown & oden (yes, i think oden was and still is overrated) as legit, sure-thing no. 1s.
why not rose? better to ask, why rose to begin with?
pre-rose, memphis finished 27-3 (.900) in 2006-7 averaging 79 points & 15 assists per game at 46%/FG%, 35%/3PT%.
with rose, memphis finished 30-1 (.966) in 2007-08 averaging 80 points, 16 assists per game at 47%/FG%, 35%/3PT%.
memphis' starting point in 2006-07 was antonio anderson. anderson averaged 3.6 assists & 1.4 TOs per game for an ast/TO ratio of 2.6. rose, in 2007-08, averaged 4.7 assists & 2.7 TOs per game for an ast/TO ration of 1.8.
meanwhile, chris douglas-roberts continued to carry memphis' scoring load by upping his average (15 to 18) and 3PT% efficiency (33% to 41%) while maintaining an overall FG% of 54% through *both* (with and without rose) seasons.
translation: for all the hype of rose's *sole* collegiate season in 2007-08, memphis was already a .900 team in a weak conference loaded with key starters returning from 2006-07, including douglas-roberts, anderson, robert dorsey and joey dozier.
yes, but the tigers went farther this postseason.
yes, but the tigers also faced eventual champion ohio st. *earlier* in last year's postseason.
moreover, it should be noted memphis w/rose *barely* squeaked by mississippi st (77-74) in the 2nd round *no thanks* to rose, who struggled against AND was outplayed by one of the *few* guards to actually outsize rose -- jamont gordon, 6-4, 230. another guard who handcuffed rose -- utep's marvin kilgore -- was also similarly sized at 6-3, 195.
suspicion: rose was often a "man among boys" against weaker competition or smaller guards helped by a returning core (douglas-roberts, anderson, dorsey, dozier) that dominated opponents without rose the previous season.
opinion: rose undoubtedly has talent, perhaps elite talent. but franchise-changing talent? nba all-star talent? champion-making talent? no; or at least not yet; certainly *not* on the basis of one collegiate season ably abetted by college teammates who already knew how to when -- without rose.
that's why i (still) favor packaging miami's first pick (whether 1 thru 4) in *trade* for a proven starter, big or small, if possible.
[1] http://heatstroked.nenda.net/2006/10/while-we-were-sleeping.php
Posted by: heatstroked | May 14, 2008 at 12:42 AM
sorry. "... but the tigers also faced eventual [runner-up] ohio st. *earlier* in last year's postseason.
Posted by: heatstroked | May 14, 2008 at 12:46 AM
ditto "... who already knew how to [win] -- without rose."
Posted by: heatstroked | May 14, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Do we Heat fans have a reason to feel bad if we end up with Bayless instead of Rose? Bayless is as tall, as fast, as athletic, as good a passer (If I'm not mistaken they average about the same number of assists in college), and as good a defender as Derrick Rose; WITH A MUCH BETTER JUMPSHOT. Granting that Rose is the better playmaker, doesn't the Heat need a better shooter instead because Wade is really the team's playmaker?
Posted by: manok5 | May 14, 2008 at 03:00 AM
2nd the motion...
thanks sarah
Posted by: Mikey B | May 14, 2008 at 03:16 PM
Mayo had more TOs than Asts this year putting to rest ANY discussion of him being a PG. I couldn't find a worse person to pair Wade with. I believe it's Rose, Beasley, Bayless, Lopez for the Heat in that order.
Posted by: May | May 14, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Q: Lets say the Heat miss out on the 1st pick and happen to draft Beasley, I would like to see them try and swing a trade with Golden State for Baron Davis by offering up Shawn Marion... They both have similar expiring contracts and if Davis is threatning to opt out at least GS would be getting something in return and Marion would definitely fit that up-tempo system in Golden State. B-Davis, D-Wade, Beasley, Haslem, D-Wright, etc would make for a pretty good lineup. They could then try and sign a defensive-minded center with one of their exceptions.
What do you think?
Posted by: JRod | May 14, 2008 at 04:14 PM
I agree about Bayless, it might be like 05, with williams and paul, 2 great PG's. They went 4 and 5 right, so they were looket at like we are looking at bayless now. However, getting back to Oj Mayo. HE had to shoot as USC was horrible, so you cant go by his assist to TO ratio, as he did it from the SG position trying to creat plays. ESPN now has him as the consensus #3, well ahead of bayless after breakhng him down by souts, they have afree insider acct listing on it so check it out. I just have the feeling that hes this years wade, accept OJ grew up a PG,. If you all recall, wade played PG in 03-04, and we went to the east semis and took Indiana to 6 games. This guy is going to be a stud, and people are going to wish they took him. I read like 7 scout reports on it, and they are now saying not to look at the ratio to bayless's ratio, due to his carrying his team. But anyway, before you all write him off, check out espn's new articles on him., Click on Draft. Someone mentioned we cant get a big this year due to cap room, SIGN AND TRADES, thats what they are for, or 3 teamers,. We got walker,posey,and jwill 2 years ago at the end of the summer in a 5 teamer, you all recall? IF Eltob BRand, or Jermain oneil want out, or if okafor tells charlotte hes not resigning, RILES is going to swooop in. So, if RIley knows we are getting a BIG, I say we pass on Lopez and take Mayo or Bayless. But Mayo was the next lebton but smaller until his fresh season. What changed? he still averaged 20 as a fresh in the pac 10 and had a good year
Posted by: dom | May 14, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Q: Do we Heat fans have a reason to feel bad if we end up with Bayless instead of Rose? Bayless is as tall, as fast, as athletic, as good a passer (If I'm not mistaken they average about the same number of assists in college), and as good a defender as Derrick Rose; WITH A MUCH BETTER JUMPSHOT. Granting that Rose is the better playmaker, doesn't the Heat need a better shooter instead because Wade is really the team's playmaker?
Posted by: Akron | May 14, 2008 at 03:00 AM
A: I wouldn't go so far as to say Heat fans should feel bad. But Rose is supposed to be the prize point guard in this draft. He is being compared to Deron Williams, while Bayless is being compared to more like a Gilbert Arenas, shoot-first guard. Bayless is supposed to be a good pro and if you look above, I answered some questions about him. It's easy to get caught up in the hype before the draft, and even though this is the Beasley/Rose sweepstakes, a great player will be available even if the Heat falls to No. 4. Just look at some of the great guards that have been taken in recent drafts. Deron Williams was selected third and Chris Paul fourth in 2005.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 15, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Q: Lets say the Heat miss out on the 1st pick and happen to draft Beasley, I would like to see them try and swing a trade with Golden State for Baron Davis by offering up Shawn Marion... They both have similar expiring contracts and if Davis is threatning to opt out at least GS would be getting something in return and Marion would definitely fit that up-tempo system in Golden State. B-Davis, D-Wade, Beasley, Haslem, D-Wright, etc would make for a pretty good lineup. They could then try and sign a defensive-minded center with one of their exceptions.
What do you think?
Posted by: JRod | May 14, 2008 at 04:14 PM
A: The salaries of Davis and Marion are similar, but trading players that both have expiring contracts after next season probably wouldn't happen. If Baron Davis decides not to opt out of the final year of his contract this offseason, Golden State probably would try to hold off on making a trade until during the season. If the Heat takes Beasley, he would likely play power forward. Marion would play small forward, so that leaves Haslem as the odd man out. Dorell Wright has not proven that he is a starter on a winning team.
Posted by: Sarah Rothschild | May 15, 2008 at 12:05 PM