damn

Chicago instantly moves up to top three in the East if he moves. I would take it if I were him.

If they get Bosh, he stays. If not, he'll leave.

if they get Bosh, Riley will come down and coach again

If I'm D-Wade, I head to Chicago. Him with Rose and the other nice pieces they have would instantly vault them into the title discussion.

I wouldn't call Beasley a bust though. He's just been a little bit inconsistent. If he were a bit more steady I think people wouldn't rush to label him that. It also didn't help that he came the year after Durant and put up Durant-esque numbers in the same conference Durant did.

A more interesting "bust" discussion is Marvin Williams. Would you guys label him a bust? He averages 10 and 5 for one of the best teams in the NBA. When you consider that the Hawks could have drafted Chris Paul or Deron Williams...

Marvin Williams isn't even the 3rd option on the Hawks. I don't know how you could call him a bust.

I mean I get why the bust label could be there. I loved him at Carolina, but I never thought he would be all that great in the League. I thought he needed 1, maybe 2 more years in Chapel Hill.

That's what I'm asking. He's very up and down because he just doesn't get a ton of looks. When I watch him play it's obvious the dude has a ton of talent. He's one of only a few guys that every time he misses a shot, I'm surprised. His stroke is silky smooth.

EDIT: I agree with what you added. He definitely has added some muscle. The only reason I think you could really call him a bust is because of what Atlanta could have had.

Yeah I kind of contradicted myself by saying "not even 3rd option" and then saying not a bust.

But I just didn't have that high of expectations for him.

wildcats20 wrote: Yeah I kind of contradicted myself by saying "not even 3rd option" and then saying not a bust.

But I just didn't have that high of expectations for him.

Yea, that's why I figured it would be an interesting question simply because he is an important piece of one of the NBA's best teams. I just don't know if 10 and 5 as a fourth option would qualify a guy as a bust. Of course, some would say the fact that a former #2 overall pick is his team's fourth option definitely makes him a bust. At this point I'd say he is the ultimate tweener in the bust category.

cview wrote:

wildcats20 wrote: Yeah I kind of contradicted myself by saying "not even 3rd option" and then saying not a bust.

But I just didn't have that high of expectations for him.

Yea, that's why I figured it would be an interesting question simply because he is an important piece of one of the NBA's best teams. I just don't know if 10 and 5 as a fourth option would qualify a guy as a bust. Of course, some would say the fact that a former #2 overall pick is his team's fourth option definitely makes him a bust. At this point I'd say he is the ultimate tweener in the bust category.

he is a bust, but honestly i dont think he ever should have been drafted # 2 overall, even if he would have turned out to be a star in the league

Hindsight is 20/20...teams passed on Jordan, far more teams passed on Kobe.

He's had a nice start to his career, in fact IMO he's generally underrated.

SQ_Crazies wrote: Hindsight is 20/20...teams passed on Jordan, far more teams passed on Kobe.

He's had a nice start to his career, in fact IMO he's generally underrated.

Are you talking about Marvin Williams?

Anyway, on topic, Miami has about 23 million in free cap space this offseason. They WILL get either Bosh, Boozer, or Amar'e.. I thought DWade would go to Chicago, but I don't really see it now. Miami could essentially sign a MAX deal guy and another guy for around 8 million a year...

I think they'd use that extra money more wisely though and add more than one other piece.

No, Beasley, my bad.

Pat Riley has been plannin' this since day 1. Last summer, who thought D-Wade would leave Miami?

Guess what, it's still the same. He's not going anywhere.

SQ_Crazies wrote: He's only 21. 14 and 6 this early is great. Like I said, he's not LeBron. We had that class with some major playmakers and that became the bar. It's too high, not every class is going to outdo the last--that class will be the best in the history of the league for years.

He's playing with Dwayne Wade, so teams are only focused on him and let Beasley do whatever. Hell, Darnell Jackson could average 14 and 6 on Miami since no one pays any attention to anyone other than Wade...

Wade is not going to leave Miami. This is a mid-level team. Everybody knows that. Two playoffs loses won't change the mentality. There is no panic going on with Wade, or the team. Like SQ said, Pat has been planning for July 1st for a LONG time. He started planning for this before the hype ever built up for it. Pat is arguably the best basketball mind involved in the game today. He's like a great chess player that see's 3 moves ahead of you. Pat will do great things this offseason, I very much believe him when he says so.

Sure, Wade could bolt to Chicago and form a lineup of Rose, Wade, Deng, Gibson, and Noah. That's a pretty good team. However, I still don't see it being a top 4 team. Where is the outside shooting on this team? I wouldn't wait on Rose and Wade to lit it up from downtown. Where is the post scoring on this team? I don't think you'd see Gibson and Noah making nice post moves. That is a team that would consist of Rose and Wade taking turns of dominating the ball and driving.

It comes down to Miami being one of the top teams in terms of money to spend. What seperates them from all the others is that they already have a superstar. They have money to get another MAX player, and then possibly sign a near all-star. Do not be surprised to see them trade Beasley and a filler for an area of need if they can sign one of the big PF's in the game. For example: I could MAYBE see a trade of Beasley/Jones for Harris. Even if Miami has a great offseason, I don't know if they can beat Cleveland/LA/ or Orlando. That's something they'd have to prove. The point is this... while Miami is not a top team right now-- Pat has made a lot of moves that will allow them to get A LOT better in the offseason.

As for Beasley, he's not a bust. I used to think that he would turn into a pretty damn good player. I just can't see that happening in Miami. They WILL NOT allow him to roam free and learn to be the man. I'm not making excuses for him, but here is something to think about. When was the last time a #2 (who most thought would be an all-star most of his career) got drafted to a team with arguably a top 3 player in the league? It just doesn't happen often. It has most definitely stunted his growth. I know most of you don't watch a lot of Heat games, but trust me, there is no shorter leash in the NBA than Beasley's. I think it would be best for Beasley, and Miami, if he found a new home; a place where they'd give him the ball and say 'be the man'. Averaging 14/6 for a career is pretty damn good for a 21yr old kid. He's no LBJ or Wade, but he's certainly not Darko/Kwame either.

jpake1 wrote:That is a team that would consist of Rose and Wade taking turns of dominating the ball and driving.

You would have two of basically the same player.
I am not convinced it would work well.

On ESPN, Reggie Miller said that Lebron will be in Miami next season. He said to count on it.

Al Capone wrote: On ESPN, Reggie Miller said that Lebron will be in Miami next season. He said to count on it.

That would be Bananas! Lebron and Wade on the same team? Yikes!

I don't think LBJ is leaving. Too much of a good thing going on at Cleveland. I still think it's a 5% chance at most as of right now. IF he leaves, I put the location of Miami at 80% chance.

If LeBron leaves, it would have to be for money and when does one finally have enough? If he wants to win a Championship, he's in the right place already.

If LBJ leaves, it won't be for money. It'll be for rings. Cleveland can pay him more than anybody. No secret. If Cleveland fails to win again this year, LBJ will have more thinking to do. That is the one thing I think can and will raise the % of him leaving (still doubt he would tho). If they aren't good enough to win again, a smart man would have to look at the place and people around him and ask if it's the best situation for the next 3 years.

LOL he'd leave for money?

Explain that one to me.

Wade not frustrated? Yea right!

If they dont win the championship why would lebron stay they have the best team in the league and they still cant win the championship, i dont see what would make him want to stay.