On Rose, Beasley Together in Miami

Yesterday, I tried to weigh in on the Wade-to-Chicago rumors. I’ve always thought he was headed there—provided he’s in decent shape, and/or the team’s still desperate for a jolt. But the denials were fast and furious from the Miami Herald, which either means Chicago’s just dreaming or, in some back room, the papers have already been signed.
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↵But today, Shanoff points out that this could mean a Rose/Beasley tandem going forward, something I’d neglected to mention. Let’s also stir into the mix Shawn Marion, who is up for an extension and always wants more than he’s worth. The Heat, with an unknown coach and thin roster, can go one of two directions: Pay the vets, both of whom are great but problematic, a ton of money next year, and still maybe rot in the cellar. I have no idea where this “if they want to contend” line is coming from; this team’s just no where at this point.↵
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↵They could mix and match; ideally, they’ll get Rose and keep Wade, but that seems unlikely. Drafting Beasley makes Marion expendable, and vice-versa (at least in practical basketball terms. It would be awesome to watch those two together). Consider, though, the Rose/Beasley option. They’d both be young as feathers, making fairly little, and get a season or two to grow into the league together. Wade is already kind of yesterday’s news, but as we saw with Oden/Durant—check the pre-injury, pre-Sonics nightmare television schedule—this could be a major draw.↵
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↵Rarely does a team weighing the “rebuilding” option get this lush a shot at an instant star nucleus. They’ll have to sell it to some die-hards. But really, is any team starting 2008 with more buzz than the Heat if they get the top two picks out on the floor and playing off of each other from day one?↵