The random-but-weighted Draft Lottery will air at 8:00 ET tonight on ESPN. The Miami Heat, the League's worst team, will have the best chance to obtain the top pick. Out of the 1,000 ping-pong balls in the lottery, 250 will have the Miami Heat logo on it. Dwyane Wade will be representing the Heat tonight, as they hope to get a third star to accompany Wade and Shawn Marion next season.
Miami has a 46.5 percent at one of the top two picks. The Heat are also guaranteed to fall no lower than selecting fourth this June. However, most Heat fans are pinning their hopes on getting either the first or the second pick.
Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose have dominated the talk within the mock drafts on the Internet. A case can be made for either one of them. Beasley offers a complete package of an NBA player that this League does not see often. Rose, on the other hand, could offer stability and athleticism at the point guard position. With Jason Williams an impending free agent, signing a point guard should be a top priority this season.
General Manager Randy Pfund has said that should the Heat land the third or fourth pick, it is not necessarily bad news. Certainly, there are options, such as Jerryd Bayless, O.J. Mayo, and Brook Lopez, who could have a profound impact to this team. Make no mistake, however, everyone involved with the Miami Heat wants one of the top two picks.
Some have compared Derrick Rose to Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, and Chris Paul. We have certainly seen Williams and Paul take their teams from the bottom of the League to playoff contenders in a matter of seasons. Moreover, Rose will also have Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion by his side. The only hole in Miami's starting lineup would be their center if Miami would obtain Rose.
Michael Beasley is widely regarded as the most complete player available in the Draft, drawing comparisons to Wade's 2003 Draft buddies, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James. His strong numbers on offense and rebounding have put him in a League of his own at the collegiate level. However, he will probably be forced to play the power forward position with Miami, since they do intend on keeping Shawn Marion. Despite his talent, it may be challenging for Beasley to guard the NBA's most difficult position.
Nonetheless, either person could lift the spirits of Heat fans before the season even starts. And either person has the ability to be an All-Star. If Miami doesn't end up victorious tonight, it will be a disappointment. The Miami Heat had a terrible season, and seemingly the only cure for that would be a top choice in the NBA Draft, which is just 37 days away.
If Miami doesn't end up with a top two pick, a trade to move up in the Draft is certainly an option. It would provide a solid building block for the future of this franchise as it seeks to move forward. No matter how they get it, David Stern should be saying, "With the first/second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select..." in 37 days.
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