http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8998

Miami Moving the #2 Pick

At this point in appears clear Miami is really not infatuated with Michael Beasley in the way some fans might assume the HEAT would be. The easy out for the HEAT is simply to say the franchise already has a power forward its happy with. However, the truth is Miami has doubts about Beasley's maturity and ability to be the cornerstone of the franchise. And given Beasley's interactions with the media in Orlando late last month, there might be some truth to all of that.

Still, there's no doubting Beasley's talent and there are a number teams that would love to nab him.

The sexy rumor has the Bulls and the HEAT completing a blockbuster trade involving Dwyane Wade and the #2 pick going to the Chicago. Sorry to rain on the parade here, but that's probably not going to happen. Instead, the more likely scenario involves the HEAT trading down so they can select O.J. Mayo, who multiple league sources have said is the guy Miami covets to play next to Wade.

This is where things get a little tricky. No one is sure exactly where Mayo will land. His stock has been on the rise in recent days. That said, he's been projected to go anywhere from #3 to #7 on various mock drafts over the course of the past couple of weeks.

If the HEAT could work out a deal with Minnesota at #3 or Seattle at #4, Miami would almost certainly be able to draft Mayo in either of those two spots. The challenge would be agreeing on adequate compensation. And such compensation would require Miami to send out other players along with the #2 pick to make salaries match.

Miami needs a point guard, but the chances Seattle's Luke Ridnour or Earl Watson will strike the HEAT's fancy aren't great. Randy Foye in Minnesota would likely interest Miami, but the Wolves likely wouldn't part with him in a deal for Beasley given the fact young stud Al Jefferson has the four-spot pretty much on lock. Miami could also try and get a deal done with Memphis that would net the HEAT Mike Miller and Kyle Lowry as suggested recently by Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel.

Also, don't be surprised if a team like the Clippers gives the HEAT a call. Would a package of Elton Brand -- who Miami once signed to an offer sheet -- and the #7 pick be enough for LA to land Shawn Marion and the #2? Probably not, but Miami should expect to get some calls like this offering a combination of veteran talent and a possible swap of picks in the days leading up to the draft.

The bottom-line is Miami has options. All signs point toward the HEAT actively exploring what's available in return for the #2 pick, especially considering the right deal could catapult Miami right back into contention in the East. And at the end of the day if the worst thing that can happen to Miami involves selecting Beasley with the pick and keeping him, that's not exactly a horrible turn of events.

A Deal Between the Nuggets and Pistons

There are myriad of deals that could be made between these two teams with a number of potential big-salary players. The final shape a potential deal might take is not yet known. At this stage, what is known is that there are the requisite pieces on both sides necessary for serious discussions to take place. Whether Denver and Detroit can agree on a deal both sides deem fair, though, remains to be seen.

Contrary to popular believe, the Nuggets are not actively shopping Carmelo Anthony. However, the team would be open to moving him to Detroit for the right package, and that package would likely have to include three of the following players: Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Jason Maxiell. The Nuggets would likely have to include at least one other player to make the deal work financially, but even so, that's a lot for the Pistons to give up. Much to the chagrin of Piston fans, and other interested parties around the league, the Nuggets are not going to sell Melo at any kind of a discount.

As such, the chances of a deal featuring Anthony being sent to Detroit aren't as good as some might think. That said, the Nuggets could still build a very intriguing package around Allen Iverson as mentioned in this space last week. Moreover, the Nuggets are open to moving anyone else on the roster including such names as Marcus Camby, Nene and Linas Kleiza. The Pistons are also reportedly prepared to move anyone with the definite exception of Rodney Stuckey and the possible exception of Jason Maxiell.

Put simply, you can't find too many teams willing to part with virtually every player on its roster. And since both the Nuggets and the Pistons are willing to part with almost anyone, this creates more options for potential trades thereby increasing the chance a deal gets done. If these two teams don't make headlines together at some point in the offseason, it certainly won't be for lack of effort.

Corey Maggette for T.J. Ford

Last summer the Clippers had a deal on the table which would have sent Corey Maggette to the Dallas Mavericks for Jason Terry. Ultimately, this deal was vetoed by Clippers ownership. However, it demonstrated that the Clippers understood the team needed veteran help at the point guard position. It also showed that the Clippers understood Maggette's time in LA had run its course.

A year later, not much has changed. Maggette's days in LA still appear numbered, and the Clippers still need a veteran point guard.

Enter the Toronto Raptors.

It's the worst kept secret in the league that the Raptors are looking to unload Ford this summer and officially hand over the starting point guard spot to Jose Calderon. Perhaps more important, though, is the fact both the Clippers and the Raptors have something the other needs.

In Ford, the Clippers would get a lightning quick point guard to replace Sam Cassell. Moving Maggette would also allow second-year forward Al Thornton to assume the duties as full-time starter at the three-spot.

Toronto coach Sam Mitchell called his team soft on a number occasions last season and did everything short of beg his team to take the ball strong to the rack. By acquiring Maggette the Raptors would get one of the strongest slashers in the Association, not to mention six to eight additional free throw attempts per-game.

A trade of Maggette for Ford straight up could happen a couple of different ways. The most likely scenario would involve Corey Maggette opting out of his current contract and then agreeing to a sign-and-trade. It's worth noting such a deal could not be consummated until July 15th. The other way this deal could go down is if Maggette doesn't opt out and the Raptors simply acquire him in the final year of his current deal.

This should be OT, no Knicks info

You can't just make up rumors.

Thread title should read......."nonsense nonsense nonsense".

Posted by Panos:

If Miami trades Dwyane Wade, I'll eat my hat.

Save me some. I'll help you eat it.

Larry freaking hated Darko and punished him. Dumars was always mad at Larry for not playing him.

Posted by Nalod:

Larry freaking hated Darko and punished him. Dumars was always mad at Larry for not playing him.

It's not hard to hate Darko.

At least with bad picks like Sam Bowie and Pervis Ellison, to name a few, they were plagued by injuries. Who can forsee that? But Darko couldnt play at all and he passed on players like Bosh, Wade, and Melo who were right in the vicinity and werent a reach at all. G'Damn he blew that ish!

To be fair to Dumars, all GM's make blunders. He got more right than wrong and got his team to 6 conf finals. That is a pretty good record!

Hard to not find a GM who nails it every time. He has a difficult owner in Davidson. Despite Larry's success, Davidson really did everything to mess that up. Thats not to say Larry was totally innocent on the matter by any means, but at least he was winning.

Im sure Larry totally messed with Darko. Larry believes if your an NBA player you should have your sh!t together and your game together.

Darko certainly has not delivered as of yet even in the "new" NBA, so its not as if he proved larry wrong.