How first two picks play out could impact Jazz
I was going to pass along my thoughts on Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Thanks to the large tree limb that was blown down onto a power line at the top of my street, however, I did not get to watch the second half of Tuesday night's Celtics-Pistons game. For four hours, the neighborhood was without power -- kind of like both teams' offenses in the first half.
So instead of dissecting the game, let's talk about something I did see.
Defying 100-to-1 odds, Chicago moved up and got the No. 1 pick in the annual NBA Draft lottery. Miami, which had the best chance of getting the top pick, ended up with the No. 2 pick.
I'm guessing the Bulls will take Memphis point guard Derrick Rose over Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley with the No. 1 pick. He is from Chicago but, more importantly, he is the true point guard the Bulls have been missing.
With Rose on board, Chicago can rotate 'tweener Kirk Hinrich between point guard and shooting guard and use some of the extra players it has at those positions (Larry Hughes, Ben Gordon, Thabo Sefolosha or even Hinrich) as trade bait to strengthen itself inside.
Thanks in part to Deron Williams and Chris Paul, teams in today's NBA have learned that a young point guard can help turn a franchise almost as fast as a dominating power player. By most accounts, Rose has that kind of potential.
Miami was the loser in the Rose-Beasley Sweepstakes.
GM Pat Riley has already started posturing. He said the Heat might be willing the trade the pick. He also said that Beasley isn't the only player on the Heat's radar.
Not true.
Everyone I know believes, at the top, this is a two-player draft -- Rose and Beasley. The team that picks second will get one or the other and, if it's Miami, that could be a good thing for the Jazz.
Let me explain.
Beasley is a 19-year-old power forward. If he goes to Miami and plays well, the Heat might be less likely to spent millions of dollars on a free-agent power forward in the next few years ... maybe one who lives in Miami during the offseason ... maybe one who has had family health issues to worry about during the last year ... maybe one who owns an option on his contract for the 2009-10 season, when his current team will owe him a relatively matchable $12.6 million.
So Jazz fans, say hello to your little friend: Michael Beasley.
-- Steve Luhm
Thanks to the large tree limb that was blown down onto a power line at the top of my street, however, I did not get to watch the second half of Tuesday night's Celtics-Pistons game. For four hours, the neighborhood was without power -- kind of like both teams' offenses in the first half.
So instead of dissecting the game, let's talk about something I did see.
Defying 100-to-1 odds, Chicago moved up and got the No. 1 pick in the annual NBA Draft lottery. Miami, which had the best chance of getting the top pick, ended up with the No. 2 pick.
I'm guessing the Bulls will take Memphis point guard Derrick Rose over Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley with the No. 1 pick. He is from Chicago but, more importantly, he is the true point guard the Bulls have been missing.
With Rose on board, Chicago can rotate 'tweener Kirk Hinrich between point guard and shooting guard and use some of the extra players it has at those positions (Larry Hughes, Ben Gordon, Thabo Sefolosha or even Hinrich) as trade bait to strengthen itself inside.
Thanks in part to Deron Williams and Chris Paul, teams in today's NBA have learned that a young point guard can help turn a franchise almost as fast as a dominating power player. By most accounts, Rose has that kind of potential.
Miami was the loser in the Rose-Beasley Sweepstakes.
GM Pat Riley has already started posturing. He said the Heat might be willing the trade the pick. He also said that Beasley isn't the only player on the Heat's radar.
Not true.
Everyone I know believes, at the top, this is a two-player draft -- Rose and Beasley. The team that picks second will get one or the other and, if it's Miami, that could be a good thing for the Jazz.
Let me explain.
Beasley is a 19-year-old power forward. If he goes to Miami and plays well, the Heat might be less likely to spent millions of dollars on a free-agent power forward in the next few years ... maybe one who lives in Miami during the offseason ... maybe one who has had family health issues to worry about during the last year ... maybe one who owns an option on his contract for the 2009-10 season, when his current team will owe him a relatively matchable $12.6 million.
So Jazz fans, say hello to your little friend: Michael Beasley.
-- Steve Luhm
6:56 PM
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7 Comments:
Until Boozer learns two things--mental toughness and how to play defense--I'm not going to worry too much about him opting out to sign with Miami.
No kidding. Apparently Steve Luhm isn't aware that Carlos Boozer is a coward who won't play defense. In a league dominated by Duncan, KG, Dwight Howard and coming soon Bynum and Oden, it's awful to know that Carlos Boozer might still be around to lose games for Utah. I only hope the Jazz front office isn't near as stupid as Steve Luhm is.
So easy to forget that without Boozer the Jazz might not have even been in the playoffs...
In Chad Ford's ESPN chat today he said that the Heat may take Mayo, that he and DWade have been working out together in Chicago.
Trade Boozer for the number 2 pick if Beasley is available. He is already better at d than booz and by the time the season rolls around probably better at offense. Miami wants him and he might go there anyway next year. (either way he will leave for more money than we can offer)
I don't believe it's going to matter. I think the Bulls are going to pick Beasley. If they go with Rose, that means they would probably have to trade Hinrich. But, Hinrich has one of those "poison pill" contracts and he had a bad season. So, trading Hinrich will be difficult.
Trade Boozer to Miami for Beasley. It would be a win win for both teams.
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