No. 2 Pick Available: NBA Draft Even More Interesting Now

The draft is only a day away and with each passing report I become more and more confident that my Bulls will do the right thing… and trade the pick for cap space. See, look how calm I am. I can even make jokes about the Bulls screwing up. But seriously, I don’t have much doubt left that Derrick Rose will be the pick, so I started looking at what the Heat can do now that they are officially shopping the second pick.

Ideally, the Heat would like to get a PG, gain some cap space next year, still be able to take Mayo, and a voodoo medicine man to magically heal Dwyane Wade every time he falls down in return for trading down a spot or two. So, here is a Sam Smith style look at the best packages the rest of the top-10 can put together.

In the order they’re selecting.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Reports say the T’Wolves are interested in a swap, but I don’t see how any trade would work between these two teams. If I were Minnesota I would rather take the risk that Miami will decide to just pass on Beasley all together. The only guys under contract that Minnesota has that would appear appealing to Miami are Corey Brewer, Randy Foye and Al Jefferson. Giving up any of those three guys, to only move up one spot, seems to be a bit much.

Here is what Chad Ford had to say about any trade possibilities between the two teams:

The Wolves have a few assets that could entice Miami. They actually hold the Heat's 2009 first-round pick, which is top-10 protected. They also have a player who the Heat have interest in: last year's lottery pick, Corey Brewer. If the Wolves really want Beasley, perhaps a return of the Heat's first-round pick and/or Brewer could make it happen.

That seems like way too much to me, especially giving up both the first-round pick and Brewer. O.J. Mayo is not a bad consolation prize at the No. 3 pick.

Seattle SuperSonics

According to Ford, this is what the SuperSonics have already offered the Heat in order to move up in the draft:

Sources say the Sonics are offering the expiring contract of Chris Wilcox, Johan Petro and the No. 4 pick to Miami for the No. 2 pick and Mark Blount.

He added that Miami would prefer to replace Wilcox and Petro with Jeff Green, and if I were the Heat I wouldn’t do it unless they did. At the No. 4 pick there is a really good chance you won’t be able to take the guy you want (Mayo), so I better get another young prospect in return.

Best-case scenario, the Heat would be able to trade Blount and the No. 2 for Green and point guard Earl Watson.

Memphis Grizzlies

At this point in the draft there is absolutely zero chance Mayo will be available. Still, according to Chad Ford the Grizzlies are the Heat’s most likely trading partner. But, if I’m the Heat, I need to be bowled over by an offer because now you’ve reached a point in the draft where there are a lot more questions surrounding each player. Also, the Grizzlies don’t have an individual player to make it seem worthwhile for the Heat.

The best thing that the Grizzlies can offer the Heat are options in this draft, and even more so, in the future. The best package for the Heat would be Mike Conley, Mike Miller and the No. 5 for Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, and ultimately Michael Beasley.

The Heat would get a true point guard that won’t take anything away from Wade, and a good shooter to hang out on the outside next to their penetrating backcourt. Also, they would have even more money to make a run at Carlos Boozer next season and a ton of options at the No. 5 pick.

New York Knicks

A deal between the Knicks and the Heat has no real chance of happening, but it’s kind of interesting to think about. Imagine the Heat dealing Blount for Eddie Curry and David Lee (causing Knick fans to riot outside of Madison Square Garden). Then the Heat having a starting lineup of Curry, Udonis Haslem, Shawn Marion, Wade, and Russell Westbrook with Lee coming off of the bench. It’s not terrible.

Even more interesting, I like thinking about Beasley and Zach Randolph wandering around the streets of New York. Nothing bad would happen there.

Los Angeles Clippers

Outside of the top 5, where there is a chance for the Heat to get Mayo or another guy they like, the Clippers have the best chance to make a deal for the No. 2 pick, according to Ford. The reason, the Heat really want Elton Brand. Every other possible trade scenario involves cap space and young players, but this is the only possible deal with an established player that will immediately help the Heat.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks needs just don’t match-up with the Heat’s need. Buck GM John Hammond has said he wants to change the team’s “culture” with a trade, but nothing seems likely between the two teams. The only possibility, is if the Bucks think Beasley is a franchise changer, than they could package the only real pieces they have to make drastic changes.

Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd, and the No. 8 pick for Shawn Marion, Marcus Banks, and the No. 2 pick works under the salary cap, and would fill some of the wholes for both teams. The Bucks would get a potential franchise “culture” changer in Beasley, and Marion would fill the team’s need for a decent small forward. Bobby Simmons has struggled since he signed there, and Marion would give them the numbers they’re missing from that position.

If I’m the Heat, I don’t make this trade because I think Beasley is going to be a star and fills there need for scoring and rebounding that Redd and Bogut do. But, this trade is intriguing because the Heat could get three potential starters: Bogut, Redd and the No. 8 pick (maybe Kevin Love). 

Charlotte Bobcats

To tell you the truth, sometimes I forget that the Bobcats exist. The most newsworthy thing the team has ever done, was bring in Michael Jordan as a “Managing Member of Basketball Operations.” Yet the franchise still feels the need to announce he’s going to be involved with stuff like the draft and signing free agents, as opposed to gambling and playing golf.

A big trade that would get the Bobcats the No. 2 pick, and then taking Beasley, would make the Bobcats relevant for the first time… ever. The problem is the Bobcats don’t really have anything to make a decent trade proposal. They would have to give up Gerald Wallace, and still nothing works under the salary cap. There would have to be a sign-and-trade, and while I think it would be great for the Bobcats to pull something off, it’s not going to happen.

New Jersey Nets

First of all, I learned with this trade that there is a new Trade Machine on ESPN, and let me tell you, it is fantastic. It gives you what the each team’s projected win-loss record is before and after the trade. Overall, it’s great. On to the trade. This is the biggest deal I could think of, and I think the Heat would say no first because there are better potential deals for them. The Heat would give up Marion and the No. 2 pick for Richard Jefferson, Sean Williams, Marcus Williams, and the No. 8 pick. Maybe, the Nets throw in a protected first-rounder next season too.

No chance it happens, so no real reason to discuss it. Anyway, I’m back to the new Trade Machine.