May

14

Heat Dilemma - Rose Or Beasley?

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Slam Dunk NBA Draft Central 

???????????????????????????Memphis point guard Derrick RoseKansas State power forward Michael Beasley

Tuesday will prove to be a key day in the offices of the Miami Heat, as some ping-pong balls will determine the team’s fate in this year’s NBA Draft.? According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat may be favoring Memphis point guard Derrick Rose over Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley; depending on who and what you believe, the Heat are high on Rose, while a certain Heat official is denying that account.? And yes, there’s differing opinions on who the Heat should take with their pick - assuming Miami gets the first overall pick.

Four NBA personnel officials - 3 of them on teams who are in the NBA lottery - think that Rose is the Heat’s man, withone adding, ”You take Rose because the game is becoming increasingly guard oriented.? Guards who have that combination of speed and power have increasing impact in the league.? And if Miami doesn’t take Rose, they will continue to have a huge point guard problem.? They can do without a great power forward more than a great point guard.”? Another opined that Beasley “won’t consistently be going against smaller power forwards like he did in college.? With Rose, he’s a tough matchup no matter what.”

Some NCAA coaches were asked the same question; according to Louisville’s Rick Pitino, ”Beasley is a great player, and statistically will give you double-doubles.? But Rose is a game-changer.? He makes other people better.? His speed is incredible.? He can be a great defensive player.? He’s got great size and he’s strong.? I just love him.? You can’t get dominating point guards and centers often in the NBA.”? Villanova’s Jay Wright noted that Rose will attract free agents as NBA players will be attracted to a point guard of Rose’s caliber; former St. John’s coach and now ESPN analyst Mike Jarvis says that, “In some ways, I like Rose even more than Chris Paul.? And you’re never going to have a chance to have that backcourt again of Rose and Dwyane Wade.? Rose potentially could be one of the best point guards in a long time.? I don’t think it’s really that difficult a decision.”

Naturally, there’s some pro-Beasley backers out there, namely ESPN analyst Fran Franschilla - who says that “If you put a gun to my head, I would probably take Beasley [if Miami picks first].? There will be growing pains for Derrick running a team.? Derrick is 50/50 whether he’s an NBA All-Star or Jason Williams or Antonio Daniels.”? Huh?? Anyways, former NBA coach Chuck Daly says that Miami should take Beasley because, “He’s a sure-fire All-Star, a 20-10 guy.? He’s so clever around the basket and a great offensive rebounder.”? It gets somewhat better as some NBA talking heads, with a Plan B in mind (meaning if the Heat do not draft first overall), think that Miami should draft Stanford center Brook Lopez if they draft third or Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless if the Heat pick 4th.

Let’s say for the sake of argument that Miami picks first.? The Heat do not really have a true point guard on their roster (with apologies to Jason Williams, yet his ship has sailed).? As the NBA personnel guy said earlier in this article - and it holds true - the NBA is becoming a more point guard-oriented league.? That being the case and the Heat having a glaring need at that position, it seems painfully clear that Rose would be the best fit in the Heat’s system.? Without a doubt Beasley will be selected first by some team, I just do not think it will be Miami selecting him.

?



Comments

Leave a Reply