The Miami Heat had to meet one of two goals with the No. 31 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft: replace Mike Bibby, or replace Erick Dampier/Jamaal Magloire/Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Mission accomplished.
NBA Draft Grades 2011: Miami Heat Successfully Replace Mike Bibby With Norris Cole
Gained: Norris Cole.
Gave up: Rights to Bogan Bogdanovic, future second-round pick, cash.
Synopsis: Cole might have been one of the better point guards in the whole draft ... and Miami picked him up for a pittance. He's probably not better than Mario Chalmers, and point guard will still be the Heat's worst or second-worst position on the floor at any given time. But if it means not one more second of Bibby in uniform, it's an upgrade for Miami.
The one issue that keeps this from being an ‘A’ is that by moving up into the first round, Cole’s on a guaranteed contract. Miami used their second-round picks to great effect last year; Cole will be locked in for at least two years, and up to four.
Grade: B+.
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