RealGM

Lane1974 wrote:you forgot that before step A, the local writer finds rumor written by Its Game Time on realgm.

BlaZeN27 wrote:I don't know, Katz is one of the better reporters for the draft.

HeatSince88 wrote:He's just recycling what he's heard elsewhere. It's amazing how the rumor mill works nowadays...

- A local writer floats a possibility (a "what if"?) in a blog or article
- Then an ESPN writer picks it up and says "Word out of Miami is that ..."
- Then other local papers quote the ESPN source. "ESPN.com is reporting..."
- Then big papers in New York and Chicago rehash it in the Sunday paper "League sources say..."
- Then it makes it on those argument shows like PTI and Around the Horn
- Then talking heads who have no new info repeat it ad nauseum to fill time and pretend they have sources so they can keep thier jobs. Katz, Bucher, Stein, etc. Maybe they add the word "strongly" considering for dramatic effect

Meanwhile, nobody is accountable for anything.

CB4MiamiHeat wrote:This isnt Chad Ford here..its Andy Katz and hes pretty reliable imo..

Its not that far fetched that we would pick Mayo over Beasley..why? because Riley is so obsessed with this 2010 cap space idea...picking Beasley would ruin that for him cause hes saving space for guys like Brand or Boozer.

Please just pick Michael Beasley.

"With the first pick in the draft, the Chicago Bulls are leaning strongly toward drafting Memphis point guard Derrick Rose. While the Bulls say they won't announce their decision until draft night, Bulls GM John Paxson admits that the Bulls are "probably leaning a certain way."

With Rose likely going No. 1, the Miami Heat are on the clock with the No. 2 pick.

ESPN.com has been reporting since the draft lottery that Heat president Pat Riley has reservations about Michael Beasley. While the Kansas State forward is a talent, Riley seems to be uncomfortable with his personality and seems dead set on finding a point guard to pair in the backcourt with Dwyane Wade.

Two sources close to the Heat told ESPN.com that Riley staged two separate secret workouts in Miami on Tuesday. The first was for Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless. The second was for USC guard O.J. Mayo.

Sources told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday night that Mayo was even told by Heat brass -- which included Riley, general manager Randy Pfund and coach Erik Spoelstra -- that he is in contention to be selected outright at No. 2.

But there are also indications the Heat are shopping that pick and could select Mayo or Bayless lower after acquiring another asset.

After the Heat were informed that Shawn Marion would not opt out of his contract, sources said Riley began calling teams looking for serious offers for the second pick.

The Heat then brought in Mayo and Bayless. Both workouts lasted about 90 minutes. It's the second time the Heat have worked out Bayless and Mayo, and according to sources, and Riley believes that both are special talents.

Bayless had an "amazing" workout, according to the source. He "shot the lights" out and performed even better than he had in his first workout for the Heat. They believe he can be a full-time point guard in the pros, similar to Chauncey Billups.

The source said Mayo was also "great," and in addition to shooting the ball well, he performed well in some of the ballhandling drills. The Heat believe Mayo could be a Gilbert Arenas-type point guard.

The same source said Riley is enamored of Mayo's and Bayless' shooting ability and believes Mayo, like Bayless, can be a point guard in the NBA.

In addition to any questions about attitude, a number of high-ranking NBA sources told Katz that one of the main reasons the Heat wouldn't select Beasley is the hope that they will land Utah's Carlos Boozer in a year when he can opt out of his contract. Boozer maintains a home in Miami.

With the Heat now identifying two lottery picks that they would be comfortable with and questions about a Beasley fit, it's looking more and more likely like they are going to trade their pick."

If the Heat don't find any takers, sources told ESPN.com's Andy Katz on Tuesday night that Mayo was told by Heat brass -- which included Riley, general manager Randy Pfund and coach Erik Spoelstra -- that he is in contention to be selected outright at No. 2.