Heat Scouting Getting Early Start?

With Miami's 9-44 record, there could be one interesting side effect - an early start on scouting for the draft.

Tonight, ESPN will be showing the Texas/Kansas State game at 8pm. Why is this important for Heat fans? Because it will feature one of the highest rated college players in the country, Michael Beasley.

Beasley is putting up excellent numbers for Bob Higgins at K-State. The 6'9"235lb freshman is turning heads with his game which offers quite a diverse set of skills ranging from drop steps to jump hooks to fadeaways. His range is quite good, hitting routinely from 25" and in. He might be a bit raw, but his game looks very advanced and mature for his age. His skill levels, on both ends of the floor, project to off the charts.

So, with the Heat's abysmal record, and Riley's stubborn coaching (almost on purpose?), the possibility of landing a talent like Beasley is becoming more and more a reality. So take heart, with each loss comes another ping pong ball. Let's hope it doesn't end up like Boston for us - in terms of the draft luck (but maybe in terms of landing a KG type?).

Yet with each loss, the Heat's scouting department is getting more and more entrenched on their objective - to find a young player that can help turn the Heat franchise around and support Wade's game. This draft will show the Heat to be overly prepared; and they will have their work cut out for them because teams like Portland seem to own the draft.