As Tuesday's draft lottery approaches, the buzz builds around Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, whom a growing number of teams now favor over Kansas State power forward Michael Beasley, one NBA personnel official asserted.
The Heat told one NBA person it leans toward Rose if it picks first, though a Heat official cautioned there is no decision. An official with another team who spoke to Miami was left believing Pat Riley loves Rose, but Beasley also has some support internally.
So whom should Miami take if it picks first? We asked more than a dozen basketball people -- NBA executives, college coaches and TV commentators -- and more than two-thirds said Rose. Some feedback:
• All four NBA personnel officials -- three of whose teams have lottery picks -- voted Rose for Miami (all requested anonymity).
''You take Rose because the game is becoming increasingly guard oriented,'' one team's scouting director said. ``Guards who have that combination of speed and power have increasing impact in the league. And if Miami doesn't take Rose, they will continue to have a huge point guard problem. They can do without a great power forward more than a great point guard.''
A second scouting director said, ``You have so many smaller point guards, and here's a chance to get a bigger [6-3], more physically mature one. His perimeter shooting consistency will get better.''
Another personnel man said Beasley, at 6-9, won't consistently ''be going against smaller power forwards like he did in college. With Rose, he's a tough matchup no matter what.'' Still, he expects some teams would take Beasley No. 1.
• We sampled college-coach perspective from Louisville's Rick Pitino, Villanova's Jay Wright and Houston's Tom Penders, and all pushed Rose for Miami. ''Beasley is a great player, and statistically will give you double-doubles,'' Pitino said. ``But Rose is a game-changer. He makes other people better. His speed is incredible. He can be a great defensive player. He's got great size and he's strong. I just love him. You can't get dominating point guards and centers often in the NBA.''
Rose, Wright said, ''will attract free agents. NBA players will want to play with a point guard with that size'' and skill. And as Penders noted, ``Look at the [NBA] impact Chris Paul and Deron Williams have had.''
ESPN analyst/former St. John's coach Mike Jarvis goes further: ``In some ways, I like Rose even more than Chris Paul. And you're never going to have a chance to have that backcourt again of Rose and Dwyane Wade. Rose potentially could be one of the best point guards in a long time. I don't think it's really that difficult a decision.''
• Pro-Beasley: ESPN analyst and former St. John's coach Fran Fraschilla, who has studied both players, is conflicted, but ''if you put a gun to my head, I would probably take Beasley [if Miami picks first]. There will be growing pains for Derrick running a team. Derrick is 50/50 whether he's an NBA All-Star or Jason Williams or Antonio Daniels.'' Former NBA coach Chuck Daly said Miami cannot pass on Beasley because ``he's a sure-fire All-Star, a 20-10 guy. He's so clever around the basket and a great offensive rebounder.''
• Two NBA personnel executives said Miami should take Stanford center Brook Lopez if it picks third, and Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless if it chooses fourth.
CHATTER
• Agent Lamont Smith contacted the Dolphins about Philadelphia cornerback Lito Sheppard, who wants a trade, ``but it didn't work out. They had other priorities.''
• Why do the Marlins have only two -- not three -- interleague home series for the first time in 11 years (Kansas City this weekend and Tampa Bay) but three on the road (Seattle, Oakland, Tampa)? Schedule guru Katy Feeney said because the National League has 16 teams and the American League 14, some NL teams get two home series 'and it's the Marlins' turn.'' (Instead, NL West leader Arizona visits here twice.) The Royals visit because they're the only AL team that hasn't played here ``and it's a priority to get teams where they haven't been.''
• After leaving them unchanged for four months, the Dolphins raised season-ticket prices (but only for new buyers) by $2 to $7 per game. . . . Kansas City passed on signing former Gators quarterback Chris Leak after a tryout. And the Browns and Giants passed on former UM guard Derrick Morse after trying him out. . . . The Heat's Randy Pfund is on the Hawks' list of possibilities for their GM job, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
• Canes talk: Former UM safety Kenny Phillips, who might start for the Giants, will wear No. 21 as a tribute to deceased former UM safety Sean Taylor. . . . The UM men's basketball team will open Nov. 21 against Southern Miss in a tournament in the Virgin Islands, and then would play Connecticut, if the Huskies beat LaSalle. . . . UM will strongly pursue Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest point guard Brandon Knight, who is undecided and is rated among the top players in the 2010 class by ESPN.com.
• Out-of-the-ordinary events here Wednesday: Gators coach Urban Meyer speaks at a 6:30 p.m. dinner at Jungle Island ($65 for UF alumni association members, $70 nonmembers, $25 children 12 and under); an 11 p.m. NFL ''Pillow Talk'' party at B.E.D., with Larry Johnson, Patrick Surtain and others (men $20, women free); and an invitation-only dinner honoring departing UM athletic director Paul Dee at BankUnited Center. New AD Kirby Hocutt begins June 1.
