Simply no two ways about it

Word arrived earlier today that the Heat's itinerary for its West Coast trip to meet with University of Memphis guard Derrick Rose in Los Angeles didn't include a layover in Chicago for a second look at Southern Cal guard O.J. Mayo.

Essentially, it was a direct flight with a direct focus on the Heat's primary target on the board. No more misdirection. At least not Saturday when it came to viewing Rose.

Still, it's getting more difficult to tell if things are getting simpler or more complicated for the Heat as we get closer to Thursday's NBA Draft, where Miami holds the second overall pick.

The feeling here is that Mayo remains nothing more right now than an enticing side dish for the Heat. But it's clear that the main entrees are what they've always been when it comes to Miami's appetite: Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley.

And whichever player Chicago doesn't take at No. 1, the Heat will grab and maintain a grip on at No. 2.

The guess here is that Rose departed his two-day visit with the Bulls earlier this week with a great vibe established with GM John Paxson and new coach Vinny Del Negro. But that vibe may have fallen just short of a guarantee from the Bulls that they would select Rose first on Thursday. That's why Rose did his part to make sure he delivered his message to the media after stating his case to the Bulls brass.

And the assumption here is that Beasley departed Miami after his two-day visit with the Heat's front- office crew last week with plenty to feel good about, but nothing in the way of a commitment from Pat Riley that he'd definitely be kept - after likely being taken - by the Heat with the second pick. Beasley never got the chance to tell the media what he did or didn't hear from the Heat. He wasn't made available to the media for dissecting purposes.

So it appears everything is right back where it started a month ago when the ping-pong balls delivered the pecking order for the draft. And if there's any clarity right now as to how the top of the draft might play out, it can only bee seen clearly from the Bulls' extremely guarded view.

Comments

[genius]

Mayo hype is to get Chi shaky about Rose.
Riley wants Rose.
Rose is the next Wade.
Wade could be the next Grant Hill.
If Chi lets Rose drop to 2nd,
Riley will take him and trade Wade.
You heard it here first. guaranteed.
he's encouraging Wade to play in Olympics
to get teams confident he's not damaged,
so his trade value soars.
Chi hasn't made up its mind.
they may waver on Rose and take Beasley.
then Pat will offer them Wade, Blount,
and Banks for a bundle of players and draft choices. it's a lock.

[williams]

If the Heat were to trade Wade eventually, why not do it now for the Bulls top pick? That way, the Heat will have both Rose and Beasley on board at the same time.

[heatstroked]

//Posted by Michael Wallace at 07:35 PM - So it appears everything is right back where it started a month ago when the ping-pong balls delivered the pecking order for the draft.//

yup.

i think it's especially hilarious when upstate (sfl sun-sentinel) nitwits call miami's last minute dash to l.a. a "blow off" of their originally scheduled trip to chicago.

miami already had a private workout to evaluate mayo. they did *not*, to date, have one with rose. that rose/armstrong *forced* the heat to scramble for a closer look was NO SLIGHT to mayo.

not at all.

you can bet miami notified mayo & co. they'd be no-shows saturday after rose/armstrong FINALLY got their act together. the heat had *no choice* but to cancel a 2nd look at mayo in order to complete due diligence on and their first/only look at rose.

i'd also bet where wade, riley, pfund are concerned, it's STILL a 3-choice option for #2.

plus, the whole rose-or-beasley, 2-man-only, either-or, first-or-second, isn't-worth-a-#2 would-be dichotomy is about *as real* as roger clemens' innocence or joan rivers' face.

as real as the 2001 either-or of kwame brown or tyson chandler when joe johnson was drafted 10th, richard jefferson 13th, tony parker 28th; as real as the 2005 either-or of andrew bogut or marvin williams when chris paul was drafted 4th, deron williams 3rd; as real as the 2006 either-or of andrea bargnanni or lamarcus aldridge when brandon roy was drafted 6th; as real as the 2007 either-or of oden or durant when al horford was drafted 3rd.

shorter: the either-or of rose-or-beasley is about as real, reliable or dependable as yesterday's garbage.

that's why teams with a history of excellence perform due diligence to the fullest extent possible even if it means chasing divas (rose), picking clowns (beasley) for subsequent trade or -- sticking with the players they may actually want (wade, mayo) despite the either-or not-worth-a-1st-or-2nd-pick insistence of mostly-wrong nextperts (winderman) and always-wrong bedwetters (winderman's cult).

[heatstroked]

experts.

"big 3."

"top 2."

either or.

[insert name here] not worth picking at [insert number here]

Israel Gutierrez, Miami Herald, May 25, 2003 -- "It would seem the Nuggets' front office has little work to do between now and draft day. With the No. 3 pick, Denver is expected to take the remaining member of the ***Big Three*** -- LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and DARKO MILICIC." [mia picks wade at 5]

Bob Wolfley, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, June 19, 2003 -- "[A Miami newspaper] reported *it's doubtful* the Heat would use its pick at No. 5 to take Wade, but if the team traded down, Wade could be available to the team at a later pick." [mia picks wade at 5]

[heatstroked]

Jay Bilas, ESPN, 2003 -- "I think Kirk Hinrich is the ***best all-around guard in the [2003] draft***, and I would take him over T.J. Ford." [mia picks wade at 5]

[JC]

would you stupid ass chicago fans stop talking crap here...wade is not going to be traded, Rose is not the next wade, not even close, He didn't produce the way wade did in college, he averges less than 5 assists a game and like 14 ppg...come on he's good right now, not great, he can be though, you know wade when healthy can be more than great, he can be the best so why not pair him with either one insetad fo taking 2 rookies and having another bad year...wade, marion, and beasley seems like the next big 3, same positions as bostonsns big 3 except we are going to be better and younger...29, 26, 19....those are the ages of out big 3...plus the role players, cook, wrgiht, haslem, davis, all in their 20's...the heat will be fine, we stay with our pick and don't trade it, how stupid would it be to pass on rose or beasley? baffling

[Bulls Hater]

If the Heat is going to trade anything it will be Beasley.............NOT WADE. If getting picked to the Olympics is anything, it is a validation Wade is still a top 10 talent in the NBA. You don't give away Lebron cuz he was hurt one year, stupid Bulls fans.

I could see Beasley to Memphis for Miller and the #5 pick. Then the #5 to Phoenix for Barbosa and Diaw and #15. Then picking Robin Lopez. How bout this starting 5:

PG-whoever Haslem is traded for(Hinrich,Ford)
SG-Wade
SF-Marion
PF-Diaw
C-Lopez

Bench
Barbosa
Miller
Mourning
Cook
Wright

That's a pretty young & deep team....almost 11 deep if you throw in Anthony or Barron at Pf/C

[K Diddy]

Please GOD let chicago pick rose please GOD b/c when our big 3 of Beasley, Marion, and the 2008-09 NBA MVP D Wade (you heard it here 1st) were gonna wreck havok in da eastern conference all we need is a knock down 3 point shooter, Cook & someone else, & a shoot blockin rebounding center

[Rumor Man]

How about the #2 to Denver for Melo?

Anyone?

[genius]

Wade will NEVER be what he was in 2006
NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER. healthy or not.
He has lost some explosiveness, plus his psyche cannot help being affected by all the injuries, plus his moves have been figured out and he can be better defended now, plus he is a turnover machine (worst
thing for any team is TO's)plus his teammmates tend to stand around when he goes into his attack mode.

[genius]

People remember Rose's key missed fouls but they forget how many times Wade has blown key foul shots at the end of games.

Rose has the combination of speed and strength that dominates. He doesn't have Wade's hell-bent drive but in a way that's a good thing and will keep him less injury-prone than Wade. He has better ball-handling skills and he accomplished less in college because he had better teammmates than Wade who carried the load. also remember that Rose
is a freshman draft choice, younger than
Wade was when he was drafted.

If chi takes Beasley, Heat must draft Rose not Mayo and trade Wade. that is the only way they move into top rank of playoffs in a year or two. If othe teams feel Wade is not a risk, they will overpay for him.

[Ashlov]

That Boston Globe writer that's suggesting the Heat will trade Wade for the #1, Larry Hughes, and Tyrus Thomas is a complete and utter moron.

IF the Heat were to trade Wade, who is still an All-NBA talent, I would imagine it would be more for something more along the lines of the #1, Deng, and Thomas. No way Riley is taking a bust like Hughes and his horrible contract.

All this talk of Wade not being the same is utter B.S. Colangelo saw him in Chicago, and if he approved him to play for Team USA, it's because he saw something that he liked. The way this country is absolutely desperate for a gold, they're not playing around with the roster.

Pat Riley knows that if he wants to keep Wade, he needs to plan for the next 2-3 years to keep him happy. I expect big things, and they'll all involve trying to keep Wade happy and IN Miami. Morons.

[heatstroked]

due diligence is due diligence.

i've been hard on beasley, but facts are facts.

fact: rose has baggage of his own (fights).

fact: ditto mayo (see below).

it doesn't alter my perception that mayo is (much) more clued, skilled and geared for quicker nba success than either rose or beasley. but it'd be dishonest & inconsistent to pretend mayo doesn't come with risks of his own based on past behavior.

Excerpted from "It's risk vs. reward dealing with Mayo" by Darnell Mayberry for The Oklahoman, published June 22, 2008:

Mayo, the former high school prodigy and USC guard, is a winner. But his three high school state championships often go overshadowed by the three schools he attended in three states. He's a natural-born scorer. But his 20.7-point average at USC, his silky-smooth shooting stroke and his crafty crossover dribble routinely take a backseat to recollections of his four suspensions as a prepster — two for fighting, one for academics and one for brushing an official during a game. [Then] there is the misdemeanor marijuana possession citation Mayo picked up last March when he and three other young men were pulled over in Huntington. The charge against Mayo was later dropped after the driver and another passenger took responsibility for the marijuana and pleaded guilty to possession. There [also] is the unconventional manner in which Mayo bucked the recruiting process and instead unexpectedly phoned USC coach Tim Floyd to inform him he was joining the Trojans. Mayo then declined to give his future coach his cell phone number. There [was also] speculation that shortly after Mayo's arrival on the USC campus he was involved in another altercation, one that left USC teammate Daniel Hackett with a broken jaw.

"I think a lot of (Mayo's) problems lie with the people he hung around with," the West scout said. "I've known Tim Floyd for a long time, and I talk to Tim and I know he liked the guy. I think some of that stuff is overblown." Former Stanford coach Trent Johnson, who coached against Mayo's USC squad twice this season before taking the LSU job, said he was impressed with how Mayo carried himself both on and off the court in the face of lofty expectations. "I think he's been doing a good job of that all his life; He was an exceptional person from what I perceived. Every game we scouted, every game we played against them, I was thoroughly impressed with him, his demeanor, his temperament, his ability to make people better and his ability to do what coach Floyd wanted him to do" Johnson said.

Lloyd McGuffin, Mayo's coach during his senior season at Huntington (W. Va.) High, called Mayo a joy to coach and remembers him always and to this day being respectful and pleasant. "The one thing to me that really stands out, the one thing that I really like about him, is how much of a team player he is as far as being able to keep good chemistry with the team," said McGuffin, who's known Mayo since he was 9. "He creates good chemistry because he's always the first to pat somebody on the back. If somebody's messing up, he's not going to yell at them. He encourages them. It's like having a second coach out on the floor, really." McGuffin remembered Mayo having a remarkable work ethic for a high school kid, regularly working out before practice in the weight room and on his conditioning and again after practice with extra shooting. "There was never really any issues with him," McGuffin said. "He just wanted to please. Basically when he arrived on campus, we talked for a couple of minutes and he was like, ‘I'm here to do whatever you want me to do and whatever you need me to do to help the team. You're in charge. You just let me know what you want me to do.' "My advice to him would be to just keep the same work ethic that he has, because he never goes through the motions. He's always working very, very hard. And not try to be better than everybody else. Just try to be the best that he can be and everything will take care of itself."

[heatstroked]

Link to Oklahoman story [ newsok.com/its-risk-vs.-reward-dealing-with-mayo/article/3260640/?tm=1214139216 ]

Excerpted from Minnesota Timerwolves interview with Tim Floyd published June 6, 2008:
[ www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/tim_floyd_on_oj_mayo_080605.html ]

MT: Thanks a lot for joining us coach Floyd. You've coached at the college and NBA levels for 20 years. What is O.J. Mayo's ceiling as an NBA player?
Floyd: Well, I think O.J. will be an All-Star in that league. I couldn't tell you exactly when that will happen for him, but I do know that he learns very quickly. I think he has a lot of assets, a lot of attributes that separate him from other players that are coming out of college. One is his ability to create separation, to get his own shot. He's not only quick, but he's strong and that's a rare combination in a lot of players and he utilizes both of them very well.

MT: It's clear that Mayo can score the basketball almost at will, but how would you gage his ability to make plays for teammates?
Floyd: You know, I think he does that well. I think O.J. has always been the centerpiece of every team he has ever been on, and not that he wasn't here, but he learned to trust his teammates, to include them, to get guys involved. I thought he did a great job at that. Early in the season he had more turnovers than he would have liked, but he is so bright - you know, he had a 29 on the ACT - that he was able to, through mental discipline and preparation, practice, putting pressure on himself, correct that as the season moved forward. I think he does a great job of including his teammates.

MT: Towards that end, how would you compare his talents with those of Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose?
Floyd: I have great respect for all these kids that are in the draft this year; we played against all of them. Rose and Beasley and (Kevin) Love ... Didn't see Eric Gordon but we played against Bayless ... All I know is I coached in (the NBA) for a few years, and we were the first team to go young in that league when I was with the Bulls. We had young players like Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, Elton Brand, Ron Artest and Jamal Crawford, Marcus Fizer who were stepping into the pro level for the first time and (some of whom) did not complete college. All I can do is measure (Mayo) against those players coming in, and I think he's more physically prepared to play his position, and his skill level is more prepared to play his position than those guys that we have. These young guys he's getting compared with, I think it gets down to what's your flavor and what's your team need. I believe Rose will be an All-Star, Beasley will be an All-Star and I'm certain our guy will be as well.

MT: Mayo's been quoted on ESPN saying that basketball is his life. Have you been around a player that's as focused on being great?
Floyd: I have not. A lot of guys talk it, but O.J. acted it out. The day he got here, he started waking our players up at 7 a.m. to go over and lift weights. After they finished he made sure everybody stayed and worked on their individual skills. They'd go to class after that ... In the evenings they'd go over to play against the pros over at UCLA. He had the same type of work ethic throughout our season. He always stayed late; he'd come over in the evenings and work on his shot. The kid truly does love basketball.

MT: Let's put basketball aside for a second. What kind of kid is O.J., in your experience in dealing with him as a person?
Floyd: Well, he was unbelievable here. A lot of these guys when they finish their season and declare for the draft, they don't complete their academics. O.J. stayed and completed his academic work because he cared about his teammates next year. He didn't want us to lose a scholarship - he felt like it was the right thing to do. He's been outstanding as a young man from day one, he's loved by the people here at this University, he treated everybody with respect, we never had an incident off the court, and for all those reasons, I'm appreciative and grateful and I'm glad we had an opportunity to coach him.

MT: Generally speaking, how much did opposing PAC-10 coaches compose game plans around Mayo?
Floyd:Well, we saw it all year long. We saw double teams, we saw, you know, walls being built with offside help to keep him out of the lane, we saw full denials, we saw box-ones and triangle two's, he's a great talent. To average 20 points in the college game when your team is comprised of other good players is quite an accomplishment. People tend to forget that the NBA game is eight minuets longer and with the 24-second clock vs. the 35-second clock, there are that many more possessions and that much more ability for a guy like O.J. that can score, to score. I'm convinced he's going to score a lot of points in that league.

MT: You faced Michael Beasley in the first round of the NCAA tournament. You said you feel like both players are extremely talented but it's just whether a team wants a low-post or perimeter player?
Floyd: That's my take. I have a lot of respect for Michael Beasley's game. Who wouldn't? He can rebound, he can post, he can face, he can put it on the floor, he can pass. He has a tremendous amount of ability. It was a great made-for-TV matchup. I love our guy, I'm sure (Kansas State loves) their guy. But I'd like to go to war with our guy again next year, unfortunately we can't.

MT: Can O.J. play both the one and the two in the pros?
Floyd: I think that's the intrigue about O.J., is that he can play either. He can play both very, very well. In addition to that, he can defend both positions.

MT: That was the next question ... He can defend both ones and twos in your mind?
Floyd: I absolutely do. I've watched him defend great speed and quickness at the point; I've watched him defend small jets that can fly around at the point, I've watched him defend bigger twos. I just think ... What a lot of people viewed as a question mark coming in, ended up being a real strength for him as people had an opportunity to evaluate his game.

MT: What should we know about Mayo that we don't already?
Floyd: Well, he's a good person. He's been so scrutinized for so long - since he was a seventh-grader. I think often times he's been misrepresented and misportrayed by irresponsibility in the media. I think people really love him, he's respectable, he did the right thing when he was here and I think the Timberwolves would be fortunate to have him.

[genius]

Ashlov, calling other people morons is no way to win anyone over to your pov. Wade is NOT the same, nor are defenses against him the same, and he is accident-prone.
I'm not saying he stinks, or is not an elite player. just now way he's MVP-caliber any more, and he's tradeable for the right package. And I hope that happens. I'm sick of seeing him turn it over and take forced shots.
I agree they wouldn't take Hughes, in fact they wouldn't take any bad trade for Wade, but they would take a good trade for him. as they should.

[Heatfan318]

Genius,

Wade rushed back from two surgeries last year and had the worst supporting cast in the league around him.

A lot of factors worked against him last year, but he still had an outstanding year by anyone's standards.

Don't you think that, after a summer where he'll get fully healthy, he's going to play even better next year?

I say yes.

[dom]

who is the moron on this site that keeps saying trade wade. Wade is 26 years old and got hurt. 26. He hasnt even reached his prime and still averaged 25 and 7 assists last year. Everyone thinks it depends on Da Bulls, but it depends on if riley can get brand. Chris Broussard/s latest post on espn says Brand wants to come to Miami and we are doing anything possible to get him. He says it might have to be marion in the sign and trade, or brand can opt out and sign the 1 year MLE for a 1 year pay cut, and sign the Max next summer so we can keep marion and haslem. Thats a team player. BUT, if we get brand, we need Mayo. I would still take beasley at 2 and trade him to Minn at 3, and maybe lose banks; salary and get our 2 picks back they have . SO, if we get Brand in a draft night trade, Oj Mayo or Derrick Rose will be the PG. If Chicago takes beas, we get rose, if chi takes rose, we draft beasley and trade him for mayo and picks. CHeck it out about Brand. But, he did sign here in 03 for the max when LA was not offering the Max, so maybe he feels he owes the heat. We did get him like 4 mill more per season over the past 5 years. So if he takes a pay cut for 8 mil for 1 year,,, there can be a wink wink 19 mil per year max next summer
Then
Mayo
Wade
marion
Haslem
Brand
Bench is zo cook wright quinn. not bad and we are back in the playoff mix. I hope he signs for the MLE

[dom]

I am dying for us to get OJ. I also have that gut that this guy can be another wade. I just feel that since we have 2 double double guys now at 6 foot 8, we need an allstar guard more than we need another forward. Plus, whether its 20-30 minutes a game, zo is coming back for 1 year. So, if hes healthy, and its his last year, he is going to play. IF we cant get Brand now, we can always go after the big next summer. Guys, if beasley is 6 11 like Duncan , its a no brainer, but in shoes and socks he is 6 ft 8 1/4. He is a beefed up Small Forward. Marion is 6 8 and HAslem is 6 9. Imagine mayo knocking down 3's, it would free up wade and marion. we would have a top 4 of mayo wade marion haslem and zo. Without the MLE or if we can get brand. Then, we still have Dorell wright and D Cook who can both be good players some day. Quinn is a capable back up. So, all of a sudden, when healthy, the Miami heat's top 8 is one of the best in the eastern conference. OJ Mayo has to be the pick if Rose is gone, but we do have to draft beasley and trade him to Minn. Minnesota owns pick 31 that was ours, and our #1 next year. SO, with pick 31 in this deep draft, go after the best nba ready Center or Power Player. BUT I AM ON THE OJ MAYO BANDWAGON

[Draft Beasley, Keep Beasley]

God, this heatstroked guy is a moron. It's always the mouth breathers with inferiority complexes that have to dominate the blog, isn't it? You keep posting those citations, though, pal. We're all hanging on your every word! It'd be so disappointing to us if you used improper notation (or capital letters).

Constantly bitching and moaning. Riley's inept, right? Haslem's garbage, right? Mayo's awesome, right? It's too bad they don't make human muzzles. For when shame just won't do the trick.