Heat Unleash the Beast

For all of the anticipation of Miami making a big move on Draft Night, the Heat having reservations about selecting Kansas St. forward Michael Beasley, etc. it actually appeared to be a predictable Draft night for the Heat in the first round. They ended up taking Beasley at No. 2, arguably the best talent in the Draft. Pat Riley spoke shortly thereafter, insisting that B-Easy is a keeper. He said they never intended on passing up on the freshmen who registered a record 28 double-doubles.

Beasley will fit right in with Dwyane Wade. He will have the ability to stretch the defense with three-pointers. Moreover, he can post smaller defenders up down low and blow by bigger defenders. It doesn't really matter if you put him at the three or the four; it's pick for poison with Beastly. Miami won the championship with an inside-outside game a couple of years ago, so we could see Erik Spoelstra putting him at power forward.

I expect Beasley will be the Rookie of the Year. He has the ability to become a 20-point, 10-rebound guy night-in and night-out. There were concerns about him measuring 6'8 1/4" instead of 6'10". However, Beasley has the wingspan of a seven-footer. He also led the NCAA in rebounds, with 12.4 boards a night. That is better than seven-footers such as Roy Hibbert, Kosta Koufos, the Lopez brothers, and JaVale McGee, just to name a few.

Miami's selection of Beasley, a forward, is an indication that Udonis Haslem and Shawn Marion may be booking a flight somewhere else over the next few months. Miami still does not have a center. The Heat did make a shrewd move for point guard Mario Chalmers in the second round, but I would not pencil him as a starter for the Heat.

In the second round, Miami traded two second-round picks and cash in exchange for Chalmers, who some said should have been drafted in the first round. The Heat wound up the night by selecting Darnell Jackson at No. 52, but traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a future second-round pick. Mario Chalmers was a point guard for the champion Kansas Jayhawks last season. In the championship game, Chalmers made the clutch triple to send the game into overtime against Memphis.

Chalmers spent three years in college, and averaged nearly 13 points per game as a junior. He shot lights out from beyond the arc, at a 46.8% clip. Additionally, Chalmers is known for his defense. He was the 2007 Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He can pick someone up full-court and rack up steals, reminiscent of a Lindsey Hunter.

If Beasley can put Shawn Marion or Udonis Haslem on the trading block, Mario Chalmers may be able to put Daequan Cook on the block. The 6'5" rookie who was a pleasant surprise for Miami could be a trade chip. He shot well from beyond the arc, but won't be able to be anything more than a backup to Dwyane Wade in a Heat uniform. With Chalmers as a three-point shooter and a defensive stopper, he could fill the purpose of Cook.

Pat Riley said himself that this team still has plenty of holes to fill. A center is needed. A point guard is also needed. Additionally, the Heat need more depth, especially in the frontline. Nonetheless, today's Draft was a significant step in rising back to prominence in the East. We still have the rest of the off-season, and Miami got off to a great start.