Miami’s Future: Mike Beasley at Small Forward and Carlos Boozer at Power Forward?
Booz on South Beach?It’s pretty obvious which member of Team USA is the happiest to board that plane coming back to the U.S. After getting more air time during Nike’s sick Marvin Gaye commercial than on the court, Carlos Boozer probably just wants to be where he’s wanted.
But that doesn’t mean Booz is rushing back to Salt Lake. After inhaling smog in Beijing for three weeks, Carlos could definitely use some time at his home on South Beach. In fact, there were some early inclinations over the weekend that the Heat could be positioning themselves to make a run at Boozer after the ’09 season.
Even with an occasionally moody Shawn Marion on the roster through next year, Miami’s brass publicly stated that they think Michael Beasley will eventually make the transition to play small forward, thereby opening a spot up for them to pursue Carlos at the four.
Dorell Wright‘s guaranteed two-year deal left the Heat with a little more than $50 million in 2009-10 contracts for 10 players (only Daequan Cook‘s $1.3 million is at Miami’s option). That means — unless multiyear deals are dumped — the Heat likely will have a little more than $11 million next summer (if Shawn Marion isn’t re-signed) to pursue a free agent such as Carlos Boozer. (The Heat has told people it can see Michael Beasley playing small forward eventually, allowing a pairing with Boozer.)
What’s a better pair? Marion and Beasley, or Beasley and Boozer?
Source: Miami Herald
-->
August 25th, 2008 at 8:53 am
timmy says:
1st
August 25th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Tha Boddy says:
I’ll have to say Beasley and Boozer just because Boozer is stronger and has inside game and can clog the middle and get away with it in the east with ease…But this does not even matter right now because the Heat don’t even have a center prospect anywhere that I know of so they need to worry about someone 2 work on and develop this season…Any1 else agree???
August 25th, 2008 at 9:04 am
the baconator says:
Beasley and Boozer is a better pairing. Matrix is way too moody and volatile to be paired with pretty much anyone. I see Beasley playing small forward in the future, so Marion won’t appreciate moving to shooting guard/power forward, especially if it’s cuz of a rookie. Course, I also don’t see the Heat getting Boozer. There’s no way Utah won’t do anything possible to keep him
@Tha Boddy: I bet they could squeeze at least 1 more year out of Zo
August 25th, 2008 at 9:13 am
doc says:
If Beasley can get his 3 man game right then Beasley and Boozer.But I never seen Beasley at the 3 so he gotta work on that.Send Marion to Europe so he can be the star.He want to be the star everywhere he go but not good enough to be the MAIN star on nobodies team.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Ansonious says:
Miami shoul be thinking about what their going to do about the center position than trying to solidfy a power foward.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Ansonious says:
whoops spelled should wrong my bad
August 25th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Tha Boddy says:
@Ansonious
thank you man you agree…I have not heard of any really young centers on the Heat…They need to try to steal one of OKC young centers…Hell they have scoring all they need a someone to block big shots and rebound the ball…Same thing the Wizards need because Haywood wants to be a scorer and thats not what they need.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:36 am
Kobeef says:
Neither option is really something to cheer about but if I had to pick I’d go with Marion since he is more of an intangibles guy that Boozer who is a stats guy but doesn’t seem to help his team win when it counts (playoffs).
I’d agree with the Heat though that Beasley is a SF in the NBA. He’ll be a better version of Josh Smith type SF who can bring rebounding and low-post moves to the SF position.
In somewhat related news, the Cavs are also looking for a Center and have turned to Lorenzen Wright to help LeBron’s front line. Could Isiah Thomas do any worse job of building a team around LeBron than Cleveland’s current group of clowns? Probably not.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:38 am
doc says:
Lorenzen Wright?What Dean Garret wasnt available.
August 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Dagomar says:
Beasley and Boozer is a much better pairing. The Heat needs someone who can play down low, and Marion is obviously more of a perimeter player.
Mind you, the Heat also needs a decent centre.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Blue says:
i’d be down with just a decent center paired up with b-easy and the matrix. i’ve never liked boozer’s game. i pretty much think he’s overrated.
and no…mark blount is not a decent center!!
August 25th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Tha Boddy says:
I don’t know if I can say “Beastly” is gonna be better than Josh Smith…J-Smoove in my opinion is about 3years from his prime and already in Jr. allstar mode. Micheal Beasley is gonna be at tops equal 2 Josh Smith with maybe more offense and less defense so how bout that.?
August 25th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
I doubt the Clippers would go for it and I’m not sure it fits the Heats future salary cap expectations but the Heat should inquire about a trade for Kaman. Maybe Haslem and pieces for Kaman. It would give the Clips a legit pf to pair with Camby and give the Heat a consistent center.
If not has Birdman been signed by anybody yet? The Heat could take a cheap chance on him.
August 25th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Jah says:
Michael Beasley and Shawn Marion fa’ sho.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:05 am
heartbreaker85 says:
if marion wants to be the star so bad, send him to memphis and get rose AND gasol (since the grizzlies are going nuts about the iranian guy).
that would form a sick trio of rose-wade and beasley, tons of cap space, and s serviceable big man down low.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Ashlov says:
Ahem…
Beasley and Lebron in ’10 is what I’m looking for, personally. If the Heat HAVE to spend their cap space in ’09, then sure, Wade-Boozer-Beasley-Chalmers is enough to win the East.
August 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Ian says:
boozer is overrated
August 25th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
Dave says:
I struggle seeing Beasley reaching his potential as a small forward. Too many perimeter touches, and too exposed defensively.
Marion and Beasley is my pick.
I’m not wild about Shawn Marion. How about just replacing Marion with another small forward? That suits me just fine.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
I’d keep the Matrix. This team as it is…is built to run, run, run. They are going to be the fatest team on the break next year. I would add a hustle type rebounder defender to come off the bench. Someone like Paul Millsap. So that when the playoffs start and things start to slow down on every possesion Marion won’t get abused by the likes of Duncan and Amare.
August 25th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
lee says:
Marion for Josh Howard ??
August 25th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
Let me set you all straight on this issue. First of all Beasley is a small forward in the NBA so him and Boozer is the best option. Second of all, if they add Boozer that takes care of thier low post situation lessining thier need for a center. You don’t have to be spectacular one through five to win games. Take the current Jazz for example Boozer is thier primary low post scorer and it’s not like Mehmet Okur is leaps and bounds better than Mark Blount. But if cap is an issue I say they save that cash for 2010 take a look at how the team is with Wade and Beasley as the only stars in 09 and try along with resigning Wade to make a run at Chrish Bosh or Amare Stoudomire.
August 27th, 2008 at 9:09 am
MSkittle says:
What about Udonis?