Oh, They Need the J?

Recent rumors have swirled about whether or not Chicago and Miami are in the midst of trade talks involving Dwyane Wade. I am not going to entertain such an asinine and ludicrous assertion. Wade himself has said he finds the rumors particularly puzzling; and Pat Riley has confirmed that his name has not been in trade rumors. I'm tired of hearing these "D-Rose for D-Wade" rumors. Rose cannot be at the level of Dwyane Wade in his first year, and probably not in the future.

A rumor that appears to be more credible is the idea of OJ Mayo. Mayo has become good friends with Wade, as the two have been working out in Chicago this summer. The Heat will also take a look at the guard out of Southern Cal in Chicago in the imminent future. It is pretty evident that the Heat like this kid. Possibly even more than Derrick Rose. And although I haven't been the first the jump on the OJ Mayo bandwagon, I can see why Pat Riley wants him.

One of the major reasons Miami is looking at him is because of his three-point shooting. The problem with a starting lineup involving Wade and Rose is that no one will be able to drain a three. Shawn Marion is too inconsistent with those ugly shooting mechanics. Will everyone just go one-on-one on offense? Somehow, I have a feeling the Heat do not want to emulate a weaker version of the Denver Nuggets.

OJ Mayo shot 41% from downtown as a freshman at Southern Cal. Although the three-point line will be farther in the NBA, Mayo has consistently shown his superiority from downtown. With Mayo, Dwyane Wade will have someone who he can kick the ball out to. It will be someone who can come off a screen and hit a jumper. That is not Derrick Rose's game. Rose needs the ball in his hands to score. In Miami, he would have to change his game.

The advantages to an OJ Mayo selection do not stop there. OJ Mayo is a hell of an athlete, giving Miami some much-needed athleticism and youth. He has good size for a point guard, at 6'4 1/2" with shoes. He will have the ability to defend some of the bigger guards in this League, a unique characteristic among point guards. I have heard people compare him to Chauncey Billups, Andre Miller, and Deron Williams. Those are not overstatements.

The Heat need someone to shoot the jumper. Miami's goodbyes to Jason Kapono, James Posey, Eddie Jones, and Damon Jones, among others, have caused Pat Riley to regret his decisions. It has also taken Miami to the bottom of the League. Mayo not only offers the jump shot, he offers so much more. He can take the ball one-on-one when Wade is out of the game and create some offense himself. He uses his strength to overpower smaller guards; and his foot-speed to blow by bigger ones.

Moreover, Mayo also is a good defender. This has become a guard's game now, and having capable defenders is all the more important. It would take a while to name all of the superior guards this League has to offer. I have not seen many elite offensive players actually like to play defense. Mayo loves to play defense. I wouldn't be surprised if Erik Spoelstra had him guard Kobe Bryant. A 6'4", 6'5" Mayo is not giving a lot of room to a 6'6" Kobe Bryant.

Mayo offers the complete package. If Pat Riley was smart, he would take him. Even if Chicago picked Michael Beasley.