It appears that Kansas State basketball player Michael Beasley would fit any NBA team’s needs. Not all of them, however, will get as good a crack at him as the Miami Heat.
In terms of popularity on his early-morning sports radio talk show in Miami, Orlando Alzugaray places Beasley, a power forward, a notch above Memphis point guard Derrick Rose.
But that could mean absolutely nothing come the NBA draft.
Miami, based on its NBA-worst record of 15-67, has the best chance to land the No. 1 pick in the draft, and later this month the Heat learns whether it is guaranteed the top selection when the NBA has its draft lottery May 20.
Right now, Alzugaray puts his money on Rose as the Heat’s pick.
“Personally, I think Beasley’s going to be a freak. He can shoot the 3, take it inside, do things most power forwards can’t,” said Alzugaray, a host on WQAM. “But the talk inside the organization is they’ll take Rose if they get No. 1 because it will be an easier transition for the team, and he is a better fit right away.”
Even one popular website for NBA draft projections, , has Rose going first to Miami and Beasley second to Seattle. Of course, all of this depends on where those white pingpong balls fall in the lottery.
The Memphis Grizzlies had the worst mark in 2006-07, but they failed to get the No. 1 pick and fell to fourth. Instead, Portland lucked into the top pick despite having only a 5.3 percent chance of getting it, and the Trail Blazers chose Greg Oden.
Miami this year has a 25 percent chance of picking No. 1. The 14 non-playoff teams in the NBA are in the lottery. The real long shot is Golden State, which has a 0.5 percent chance of landing the top selection.
So who is best suited for Beasley? The Grizzlies probably could use him more than anybody.
They’re still seeking to fill the large void left by Pau Gasol’s departure. The guard-heavy Chicago Bulls surely could find a spot for Beasley.
NBA scouting director Marty Blake, preparing for his 57th draft on June 26, put Beasley’s situation in perspective.
“What does the team need that picks him?” Blake said. “Five players.”
A scout for a team in the Eastern Conference thinks Miami has a real dilemma on its hands if it goes first, even though it looks as if the Heat is point-guard challenged because Jason Williams is free-agent material, Marcus Banks still has some proving to do, and Chris Quinn probably is best suited as a reserve.
“Miami is trying to take the pressure off Dwyane Wade from handling the ball, so Rose really, really would free him up from injuries and doing so much work,” the scout said, “but it also doesn’t make a whole lot of sense passing up Michael Beasley.”
The Heat, however, isn’t exactly weak at forward with Shawn Marion and Udonis Haslem. If Beasley goes to Miami, he will have something in common with Haslem. Both played for K-State coach Frank Martin (Beasley at K-State, Haslem in high school in Miami).
But what if Beasley finds himself on the opposite corner of the country, in Seattle (or Oklahoma City, if you prefer)? It would be interesting to see whether that franchise, wherever it plays in 2008-09, takes Beasley. The Sonics have a 19.9 percent probability of having the No. 1 pick, which is the second-best chance of any team.
ESPN analyst Tim Legler isn’t convinced it’s wise to have both Beasley and 6-foot-10 Kevin Durant playing together. On the other hand, they could give Seattle/Oklahoma City potent threats inside and outside. Legler believes Beasley is immediately ready to contribute wherever he goes.
“He doesn’t mind contact, and that’s usually the biggest adjustment to the next level,” Legler said.
In Miami, Beasley probably will remain a hot topic.
Alzugaray doesn’t think the Heat’s draft philosophy will change now that assistant Erik Spoelstra has been elevated to head coach and coach Pat Riley (who groomed Spoelstra) is team president.
“Talking about Beasley and the draft will keep people interested,” Alzugaray said, “but really, the NFL is always No. 1 here, and everything else is a distant 42nd.”
