A Rose by any other name would smell as sweet...

The great Ira Winderman had an interesting story in his blog...

Last night the injured Miami Heat All Stars - Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Marion, Udonis Haslem, Dorell Wright, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc spoke to fans who were deciding to buy season tickets for next season.

Apparently one of the fans asked Wade who he hopes the Heat selects in the NBA draft...

Something particularly interesting did come out of having
inactive players hawk season tickets at a phone bank during halftime.

Asked by a potential customer about his preference for the
Heat's lottery pick, Dwyane Wade said he couldn't comment because the player was
still in the NCAA Tournament.
And Wade also knew he couldn't mention an
underclassman yet to commit to the draft.
But at least we now know that Wade
wants Memphis freshman point guard Derrick Rose, should the Heat have the
choice, because Michael Beasley most definitely is not still alive in the
tournament.
Now we'll see how much clout Wade has in such matters, should
the Heat land the top overall pick.
Wade-Rose could arguably become the top
backcourt, at least of the future, in the Eastern Conference

Now I am not a regular college basketball fan, I did watch many games in the tournament however. Unfortunately Michael Beasley, the concensus #1 pick by most got eliminated early. I have mainly seen him on SportsCenter highlights. I did see several of Derrick Rom not a se's games, and I have to say he definitely has the "it" factor. He reminds me of a point guard version of Wade - unselfish, athletic, takes it to the hole, long arms, wiling to take over when needed. I just didn't get the same "it" factor from when I have seen Beasley. Not to say he won't be a great pro, I could be (and probably am) dead wrong.

I have seen Beasley compared all over the web from players as varied as Derrick Coleman, Carmelo Anthony & Glenn Robinson. Just about every mock draft, from Chad Ford on ESPN to my boy Jonathan Givony at the fantastic Draftexpress.com to Nbadraft.net has him #1. Common NBA thinking says all things being equal, take the big guy over the smaller guy. I am just reminded of 2005 when the Hawks took Marvin Williams at #2 over both Chris Paul and Deron Williams. Or 2006 when Andrea Bargnani, Adam Morrison, and Shelden Williams went ahead of Brandon Roy & Rudy Gay.

Even go back to Glenn Robinson draft where he went #1 overall ahead of Jason Kidd. People are enamored with size, thus you have teams drooling over the potential of a Darko Milicic or Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Kwame Brown & Stromile Swift. I realize Beasley has put up numbers as a freshman on a team with little else, and there IS something to be said about that.

I for one am hoping the Heat get the #2 pick and the decision is easier for them, but I hope if they get #1 they take the guy they think will be the better pro and not who the world thinks should go #1. Besides, between Marion & Haslem they have the forward spots covered. Point guard is a glaring hole and a Rose-Wade back court would be tantalizing.