Miami Heat: 5 biggest NBA Draft mistakes under Pat Riley
By Frank Urbina
1. 2008 NBA Draft — Michael Beasley over Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love
In his lone year at Kansas State, Michael Beasley averaged 26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, while shooting 53.2 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from three.
Russell Westbrook, who declared after his sophomore season at UCLA, averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.6 steals on .465/.338/.713 shooting splits during his second year as a college player.
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Westbrook’s teammate in college, Kevin Love, who was a one-and-done like Beasley, averaged 17.5 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks, while hitting 55.9 percent of his shot attempts as a Bruin.
In the 2008 NBA Draft, Derrick Rose was the clear-cut top guy. He wouldn’t be available at No. 2, which was the pick Miami had. Taking Beasley, without question, was the right move by the Heat.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any less of a draft flub.
Westbrook might be about to win his first MVP trophy, is one of the NBA’s elite at lead guard and is an unbridled superstar. Love isn’t quite on that level, but he’s one of the top power forwards in the game. Don’t let his somewhat lackluster averages in Cleveland sway you of that notion.
In a theoretical mistake-less world, either guy would have formed an insane partnership with an in-prime Wade, or been a desirable trade chip before the Big 3 got together.
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Instead, Beasley was the selection. And even after three separate stints with the Heat, he’s been nothing but a disappointment. Ultimately, did it matter? Not really, considering Miami won two titles within five years of the Beasley pick. Nonetheless, that doesn’t make the decision any better.