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Check out what ESPN's Chad Ford is saying about the possibility that the Miami Heat take O.J. Mayo with the second pick if the Chicago Bulls draft Derrick Rose instead of Michael Beasley:
But after talking to Paxson, I think the theoretical guy he's describing -- the player who is a leader, who makes people better, has great character and can be a franchise player -- sounds like Rose. Paxson denied this on the interview, but more and more people in the league seem to be coming to the conclusion that this is Rose's pick to lose.
If the Bulls take Rose No. 1, that leads to an interesting scenario with the Heat at No. 2. Sources say the Heat want Rose, too, but if he's not on the board, a source familiar with the Heat's thinking told me that the team is interested in O.J. Mayo and think he might be a great fit in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.
I'm not sure why the Heat are shying away from Beasley, as he would be a good fit in Miami. But I see why Miami likes Mayo. While Rose is a pure point guard, his lack of a jump shot would make him a somewhat less than ideal fit alongside Wade. Yes, the Heat would have the most athletic backcourt in the league, but without much outside shooting.
Mayo, on the other hand, is an excellent shooter with deep range. He also has enough point guard skills to run a team like Miami, especially with Wade, a combo guard, also handling the ball a lot. Mayo's basketball IQ and age (he'll be 21 in November) also make him a little more NBA-ready than Rose right now.
For several years NBA teams have ranked Mayo as the top prospect in his draft class. After a shaky start for USC, he came on strong at the end of the season. And he has looked awesome in his Chicago workouts with Tim Grover. (ESPN)
Wow, that would be really be something if Michael Beasley ended up falling to third pick in the draft. The way things are looking it seems that the Bulls will take Rose, Mayo will end up on the Heat, and Beasley will be on the Timberwolves. I'd hate to be the team that has to guard both Big Al Jefferson and The Beast Michael Beasley in the post, that could be a dominate pairing for years to come.
As far as OJ Mayo going to the Heat, I was not overly impressed with Mayo this year at USC, but he does have big time talent and he can definitely shoot the ball. Pat Riley knows how to scout talent, so I'm going to assume if he wants Mayo then Mayo is the real deal.
However, the Miami Heat do need help down low and you have to wonder what Pat Riley has up his sleeve to fix their low post problems. You know Riley is going to make a move, he really isn't the type to sit put and not try to improve his team. So what do I think Riley will do?
But after talking to Paxson, I think the theoretical guy he's describing -- the player who is a leader, who makes people better, has great character and can be a franchise player -- sounds like Rose. Paxson denied this on the interview, but more and more people in the league seem to be coming to the conclusion that this is Rose's pick to lose.
If the Bulls take Rose No. 1, that leads to an interesting scenario with the Heat at No. 2. Sources say the Heat want Rose, too, but if he's not on the board, a source familiar with the Heat's thinking told me that the team is interested in O.J. Mayo and think he might be a great fit in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.
I'm not sure why the Heat are shying away from Beasley, as he would be a good fit in Miami. But I see why Miami likes Mayo. While Rose is a pure point guard, his lack of a jump shot would make him a somewhat less than ideal fit alongside Wade. Yes, the Heat would have the most athletic backcourt in the league, but without much outside shooting.
Mayo, on the other hand, is an excellent shooter with deep range. He also has enough point guard skills to run a team like Miami, especially with Wade, a combo guard, also handling the ball a lot. Mayo's basketball IQ and age (he'll be 21 in November) also make him a little more NBA-ready than Rose right now.
For several years NBA teams have ranked Mayo as the top prospect in his draft class. After a shaky start for USC, he came on strong at the end of the season. And he has looked awesome in his Chicago workouts with Tim Grover. (ESPN)
Wow, that would be really be something if Michael Beasley ended up falling to third pick in the draft. The way things are looking it seems that the Bulls will take Rose, Mayo will end up on the Heat, and Beasley will be on the Timberwolves. I'd hate to be the team that has to guard both Big Al Jefferson and The Beast Michael Beasley in the post, that could be a dominate pairing for years to come.
As far as OJ Mayo going to the Heat, I was not overly impressed with Mayo this year at USC, but he does have big time talent and he can definitely shoot the ball. Pat Riley knows how to scout talent, so I'm going to assume if he wants Mayo then Mayo is the real deal.
However, the Miami Heat do need help down low and you have to wonder what Pat Riley has up his sleeve to fix their low post problems. You know Riley is going to make a move, he really isn't the type to sit put and not try to improve his team. So what do I think Riley will do?
Well there's a stud of a PF/C on the Clippers named Elton Brand, who just happened to sign an offer sheet with the Heat a few years back when he was a free agent, before the Clippers eventually matched the offer. He also happens to have a player option for the 2008-2009 season, which means he can opt out of his contract if he wants to try to go somewhere else and win. I don't see any reason for him to stay with the Clippers because they aren't going to win out West anytime soon. He has a chance to leave now and he should and I would not be surprised to see Pat Riley try to get him to come to Miami.
A Miami Heat team of O.J. Mayo, Dwayne Wade, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem, and Elton Brand can definitely be competitive in the East. They would be relatively young too, so with this team as their nucleus they could go some damage as time goes on. I don't think they could win a championship next season but no doubt in my mind this team would make the playoffs in the East. I hope this happens because I would like to see how this team would do and it would improve what is a weak Eastern Conference after the first 4 or 5 teams or so.
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