Michael Beasley Staying Put: Pat Riley Plays It Smart
Apparently, Pat Riley isn't as dumb as he would have many to believe. When many expected him to dump the super talented Micheal Beasley for extra cap space, Pat played it cool and did the smart thing—he kept the second best player last season for the Miami Heat.
When most of the media outlets were creating fictional stories about the Heat trying to move Beasley and doing everything to keep Haslem, the Heat did what they said they would do all along—build the team around Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley.
It's been well stated how much Pat Riley doesn't like young players and how he prefers veteran players. It's been overstated who the Heat will pursue this free agent period.
Riley has re-built three franchises to date(Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.) Riley understands that you don't win with just three high profile players. He understands that you need a complete 12-man roster. One that has the most mismatches as possible. And currently, Michael Beasley is the biggest mismatch at the Power Forward position in the NBA.
Riley is not about to cash all his chips in on free agency. There's no guarantee that Bosh, Amare, or Boozer will sign here. Why partner with Wade, who's closer to 30 than he is 25? Bosh made a statement last night that he and everyone else is waiting on what James does. He said a player would be crazy to not want to play with him.
So, why trade Beasley and be left with nothing? It serves no purpose and makes no sense. Riley isn't crazy, but these media personalities are. The papers in Miami read with blood and hate.
Isreal Guittearez of the Miami Herald, called the Heat organization "stupid" for not dealing Michael Beasley. He said it was a mistake to keep a player that has done nothing in his first two seasons.
Nothing? Seriously, Beasley hasn't done anything to help the Heat?
It's writers like him that give journalism a bad name.
Beasley has been the second leading scorer for the Heat, in both his years in the league. The Heat has won 90 games over the past two seasons (55 percent). He also was second on the Heat in steals this season, third in rebounds, and fourth in blocks.
Anyway, the Heat have a little over $44 million in cap space. Wade will eat up about $16.5 million of that. That leaves the Heat with $27 million to build a team around Wade, Beasley, Chalmers, Beverly, and Pittman.
Miami knows it doesn't take much to win with Wade on its roster. They know Beasley will get better. They know Chalmers can be a legit starter. Beverly proved he's ready this past season overseas. They know they can develop Pittman a lot faster than they did Joel Anthony.
Pat Riley made the right choice last night. He kept Michael Beasley where he was needed most, in Miami.
Now the Heat must land Luke Ridnour to play its PG position. It must land Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay to be its Small Forward(they should offer the 76ers two future first rounders for Iguodala). It must land Rasual butler and his deep shooting to play off the bench. It must land Darko Milicic so they can develop him and his seven foot frame. It must land Larry Hughes to create plays off the bench and provide solid defense.
Let the Dynasty begin.
