Beasley or Rose? Is that the Question?

As most of the NBA's 30 teams begin to gear up for a push in the final half of the season after the All-Star break, the Heat now know they won't make the playoffs. The trade deadline is approaching, but there haven't been many trade winds harboring in Miami (no, the Heat aren't getting Eddy Curry). One gem the Heat do have is their lottery-protected first round draft pick the Heat sent to Minnesota in the Ricky Davis/Mark Blount deal. If the Heat continue their dismal season, they will be in the lottery with a decent chance of getting the top pick. Who they use with their first lottery selection since the one they used to grab Dwyane Wade is up in the air.

As I looked around the Mock Drafts of the NBA, nearly all of them have Miami picking up Michael Beasley or Derrick Rose -- arguably, the two most hyped players in this year's college basketball. As I looked deeper, I realized that only one of these players is actually living up to the hype.

Michael Beasley is a monster. At the college level, he is in a League of his own. He averages 25.7 points per game for the Kansas State Wildcats to go along with 12.6 rebounds. "Beastly" has notched nine 30+ point-games this season and two 40-point games this season (he does play in two 20-minute halves). Beasley has failed to grab double-digit rebounds just twice this season and has had two 20-rebound games.

The 6'9", left-handed forward has an NBA-ready body. His 235-pound frame is reminiscent of when LeBron James first entered the League. Beasley is widely predicted to be the #1 pick in this year's Draft. If Miami is able to come up lucky in the lottery, they should definitely take Beasley with their pick.

Some people may be wondering why Riles would do this, considering he already has Shawn Marion, who will probably not opt out this summer. Using Beasley as a power forward is certainly an option for the Heat, who appear to be moving into a more up-tempo style. Beasley has always loved a challenge, and banging down low with the Rasheed Wallaces of the League will certainly be met with enthusiasm. LeBron James guarded Tim Duncan down the stretch of the All-Star Game, and the East was able to double Duncan and recover back to their men quickly. I would anticipate a similar happening should Miami pick up Beasley.

The Big Three of Wade, Marion, and Beasley is a young group of guys that are athletic and have cat quickness. If Riley surrounds those guys with a decent point guard, a serviceable big man, and some shooters, I have no doubt that the Miami Heat will be right up there next season with Boston and Detroit in the East.

In nearly every Mock Draft I saw, wherever Beasley was, Derrick Rose was right behind him. People have compared him to Baron Davis, Jason Kidd, and even Dwyane Wade. However, as I have caught a couple of Memphis games, I have come to the truth that Derrick Rose is overrated.

Just by looking at his numbers, you can tell that Rose is a little over-hyped. 13.6 points and four assists isn't all that great for a player touted to leave his mark on the game at the next level. In that close game against UAB, Rose shot a miserable two-of-13 from the field. When you watch him, Rose has a limited amount of moves in his repertoire. He sometimes can seem lost going off the dribble or attempting to create something from the perimeter. He is a relatively big point guard at 6'3", but hasn't utilized his back-to-the-basket game enough to make it a strength of his.

If the Heat don't get the #1 pick, there are numerous players that could help Miami. Scoring point guards Jerryd Bayless or Eric Gordon are certainly options. Seven footers DeAndre Jordan, Hasheem Thabeet, and Roy Hibbert can help Miami when it comes to rebounding and interior defense. A more interesting move could be to draft Europeans Nicolas Batum or Daniolo Gallinari. As college basketball starts to heat up, make sure you catch the games...because one of those guys might be starting next to Wade in November.