William (MN)

Chris, you mentioned the possibility of Beasley being traded in Miami. Any chance a trade between the Wolves and the Heat could happen? Kahn is looking for a young star. Beasley still have potential...

Chris Sheridan (4:06 PM)

There are two teams that I believe might take on Beasley in what would be a lopsided cap-clearing trade for the Heat that could be agrred to by June 30 but could not be announced until the new cap is set July 8: Minnesota and New Jersey. Both are going to have loads of cap room, and neither is a particularly attractive destination for free agents. The solution: Acquire players via trade into their cap space. Example A: Miami offers Beasley, Cook, James Jones, $3 million and a future No. 1 to Wolves for basically nothing. The Heat thereby clear all their contracts and get their payroll down to zero (besides Wade), and Minny gets the No. 2 pick of the '08 draft and a future No. 1. Example #2: Miami offers the same package to the Nets, who need to restock and won;t find many players eager for two years of purgatory in Newark.

Source: http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/32077

Did Riley start snorting coke while in Miami because no way that deal happens without Miami receiving compensation? SMH at Sheridan.

Michael Beasley

Hate to throw the "bust" word around after two years, so let's flip this around. You're watching the playoffs right now. Pretty competitive, right? Other than scoring, you need to rebound, defend and play hard to advance. Beasley can't do any of those three things. Play an undersized power forward against him (like Glen Davis in Game 2) and he gets eaten up. Stick a small forward on him (like Paul Pierce) and he can't post that guy up. Stick a traditional power forward on him (like Kevin Garnett) and he can't beat that guy off the dribble or prevent the guy from scoring on the low post. So what's left? I don't see any conceivable scenario in which this guy has a meaningful NBA career. Could he put up stats on a bad team? Of course. Anything else, I'm not seeing it. All of Pat Riley's fidgeting during the 2008 draft now makes perfect sense.

If Dwyane Wade ends up leaving this summer, it's because of two reasons:

A. The teams that ended up with O.J. Mayo (3) Russell Westbrook (4), Kevin Love (5), Danilo Gallinari (6), Eric Gordon (7), Brook Lopez (10), Jerryd Bayless (11), Robin Lopez (15), Serge Ibaka (24), Nic Batum (25) and George Hill (26) wouldn't trade those guys for Beasley right now. That's a borderline catastrophe. They got the 13th-best guy in the draft at No. 2.

B. Riley didn't sell his Beasley stock in time. The window was February, when a panicking Suns team happily would have green-lighted Beasley (making $19.4 million from 2011-2013), Udonis Haslem's expiring deal and a protected 2010 No. 1 for Amar'e Stoudemire. If you're Miami, why not? Amar'e gets a taste of Miami for a few months; you get the chance to offer him a sixth year and more money; worst-case scenario, you have his sign-and-trade rights this summer; you can make a 2010 playoffs run with the Wade-Amar'e combo; and you potentially have a 2010-11 nucleus of Wade, Amar'e and Free Agent Star X.

If you're Wade, would you stick around and put your basketball prime in the hands of someone who just botched those two decisions? Or would you flip teams and opt for a safer situation? More on this later.

kam77 wrote:Bill Simmons:

Michael Beasley

Hate to throw the "bust" word around after two years, so let's flip this around. You're watching the playoffs right now. Pretty competitive, right? Other than scoring, you need to rebound, defend and play hard to advance. Beasley can't do any of those three things. Play an undersized power forward against him (like Glen Davis in Game 2) and he gets eaten up. Stick a small forward on him (like Paul Pierce) and he can't post that guy up. Stick a traditional power forward on him (like Kevin Garnett) and he can't beat that guy off the dribble or prevent the guy from scoring on the low post. So what's left? I don't see any conceivable scenario in which this guy has a meaningful NBA career. Could he put up stats on a bad team? Of course. Anything else, I'm not seeing it. All of Pat Riley's fidgeting during the 2008 draft now makes perfect sense.

If Dwyane Wade ends up leaving this summer, it's because of two reasons:

A. The teams that ended up with O.J. Mayo (3) Russell Westbrook (4), Kevin Love (5), Danilo Gallinari (6), Eric Gordon (7), Brook Lopez (10), Jerryd Bayless (11), Robin Lopez (15), Serge Ibaka (24), Nic Batum (25) and George Hill (26) wouldn't trade those guys for Beasley right now. That's a borderline catastrophe. They got the 13th-best guy in the draft at No. 2.

B. Riley didn't sell his Beasley stock in time. The window was February, when a panicking Suns team happily would have green-lighted Beasley (making $19.4 million from 2011-2013), Udonis Haslem's expiring deal and a protected 2010 No. 1 for Amar'e Stoudemire. If you're Miami, why not? Amar'e gets a taste of Miami for a few months; you get the chance to offer him a sixth year and more money; worst-case scenario, you have his sign-and-trade rights this summer; you can make a 2010 playoffs run with the Wade-Amar'e combo; and you potentially have a 2010-11 nucleus of Wade, Amar'e and Free Agent Star X.

If you're Wade, would you stick around and put your basketball prime in the hands of someone who just botched those two decisions? Or would you flip teams and opt for a safer situation? More on this later.

- Beasley is a SF. He cannot guard a 300 pound Glen Davis because he has neither the strength nor length to bother Davis. He cannot guard Garnett because he does not have the length to contend with Garnett. He could have guarded Pierce but he isnt an experienced defender and Pierce would have likely gave him the business. Sorry but I'm not going to get down on a guy who just turned 21 in January because he cant guard Garnett(7 foot Allstar), Pierce(Allstar), Davis(a human tank).

- Trading Beasley, Haslem, AND a pick for Amare would have been INSANE. No way is anyone stupid enough to give Amare a 6 yr max deal with those knees so Miami can get him in the summer for FREE if they like. Plus if Wade leaves that team is stuck paying Amare the max. Riley already stated he isnt signing anyone until Wade signs on the dotted line.

- What has Kevin Love or Gallinari done to warrant being not considered a bust since they have done alot of nothing on losing teams? I mention Gallo and Love because they are the only Forwards who come close to Beasley's offensive ability.

- Most of this Beasley hate is unwarranted and no one is going to blame Wade so the next talented player gets the lashing. We should be talking about how J O'neal and Haslem were less than spectacular in the front court.

- No one likes to mention that Piatskowsi yanks Beasley frequently. How does a player develop when every time you make a mistake you get yanked?

- Of course some of those teams wouldn't trade the player they DRAFTED for Beasley because those players fit those teams. OJ Mayo is Memphis' only Shooter, Beasley and Durant play the same position so why would OKC trade Westbrook, Al Jefferson is reportedly trade bait this summer so once again why would they trade their future PF, Danilo Gallinari is a 7ft future PF so why would we trade a SF for a PF?, Gordon is their future SG and they have GRIFFIN, Portland would trade Bayless for Beasley but Miami wouldn't,the rest is pure foolishness.

nyk4ever wrote:^dude is beasely your father, brother or uncle?

No it is just stupid how he gets hated on. Valid criticism is good because he isn't perfect. Beasley wasn't a good defender in College so this is nothing new. Beasley was not drafted to anchor their front court defensively. He was drafted to provide scoring from the PF/SF position and supply decent defense.

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:^dude is beasely your father, brother or uncle?

No it is just stupid how he gets hated on. Valid criticism is good because he isn't perfect. Beasley wasn't a good defender in College so this is nothing new. Beasley was not drafted to anchor their front court defensively. He was drafted to provide scoring from the PF/SF position and supply decent defense.

as the #2 pick, I think the expectations are a bit higher than just providing scoring and decent defense.

I understand that. All Im saying is who would have been a better fit next to Wade. OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Gallo, etc? Kevin Love and Gallo were injured their first year. Westbrook and Mayo would not have meshed in a backcourt with Wade especially as rookies. The only guy who I believe who could have legitimately been a help to the Heat is Brook Lopez because O'neal is pure trash.

Now if Wade leaves then Beasley becomes the man and gains experience that other top players in his class got last year.

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:^dude is beasely your father, brother or uncle?

No it is just stupid how he gets hated on. Valid criticism is good because he isn't perfect. Beasley wasn't a good defender in College so this is nothing new. Beasley was not drafted to anchor their front court defensively. He was drafted to provide scoring from the PF/SF position and supply decent defense.

as the #2 pick, I think the expectations are a bit higher than just providing scoring and decent defense.

I understand that. All Im saying is who would have been a better fit next to Wade. OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Gallo, etc? Kevin Love and Gallo were injured their first year. Westbrook and Mayo would not have meshed in a backcourt with Wade especially as rookies. The only guy who I believe who could have legitimately been a help to the Heat is Brook Lopez because O'neal is pure trash.

Now if Wade leaves then Beasley becomes the man and gains experience that other top players in his class got last year.

that whole meshing excuse doesnt entirely working for me, especially with such a high pick. It's like not choosing Jordan because you have Clyde Drexler and instead going with Sam Bowie.

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

martin wrote:

AnubisADL wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:^dude is beasely your father, brother or uncle?

No it is just stupid how he gets hated on. Valid criticism is good because he isn't perfect. Beasley wasn't a good defender in College so this is nothing new. Beasley was not drafted to anchor their front court defensively. He was drafted to provide scoring from the PF/SF position and supply decent defense.

as the #2 pick, I think the expectations are a bit higher than just providing scoring and decent defense.

I understand that. All Im saying is who would have been a better fit next to Wade. OJ Mayo, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Gallo, etc? Kevin Love and Gallo were injured their first year. Westbrook and Mayo would not have meshed in a backcourt with Wade especially as rookies. The only guy who I believe who could have legitimately been a help to the Heat is Brook Lopez because O'neal is pure trash.

Now if Wade leaves then Beasley becomes the man and gains experience that other top players in his class got last year.

that whole meshing excuse doesnt entirely working for me, especially with such a high pick. It's like not choosing Jordan because you have Clyde Drexler and instead going with Sam Bowie.

You are right but having Roy probably kept Portland from taking Durant just like having Tayshaun Prince caused Detroit to pass on Carmelo Anthony. When you have a "star" player you usually dont draft a guy who wont mesh with him. Im not saying it's is right but it happens alot.

Panos wrote:

martin wrote:
that whole meshing excuse doesnt entirely working for me, especially with such a high pick. It's like not choosing Jordan because you have Clyde Drexler and instead going with Sam Bowie.

What was wrong with the Sam Bowie pick? Oh... now you're going to tell me HE was a bust too. I think its too soon to make that conclusion. The jury is still out.

Totally agree. Big men take longer to develop.