Heat take Beasley in NBA Draft

Published June 30th, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS COMMENTARY

The Miami Heat did what they were expected to do in Thursday night’s NBA Draft, selecting Kansas State freshman Michael Beasley with the No. 2 overall pick.

(Chicago chose Memphis point guard Derrick Rose with the top pick).
After a late smokescreen in which USC guard O.J. Mayo was flown in to practice for Heat executives, Miami chose one of two anticipated impact players in the draft in Beasley, someone who can provide scoring at a forward position that has been lacking in that area in recent years.

Team Beasley, who averaged 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds a game last year, with Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion, and Miami has a solid nucleus to build around.

Miami also traded for Kansas star Mario Chalmers, who was drafted by Minnesota with the fourth pick in the second round.
The Heat gave up two second round picks in 2009 and cash for Chalmers, who famously hit a game-tying three-pointer against Memphis to send the NCAA final into overtime, where the Jayhawks eventually won.

Chalmers, the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, adds shooting and defense to a team woefully thin in both areas.
The Heat also drafted Chalmers’ teammate, 6-foot-8 forward Darnell Jackson, with the 52nd pick.
According to draft pundits, the Heat had one of the better draft nights of any team, and the additions of Beasley, Chalmers and Jackson add toughness and skill to what was the NBA’s worst team last season.

There is hope anew in Miami, and in the relatively weak Eastern Conference, the Heat have a strong chance of making it back to the playoffs in 2009.