The NBA holds its draft lottery May 20, and that's when the Heat finds out if it gets the No. 1, 2, 3 or 4 pick in the June 26 draft.
Miami officials haven't tipped their hand on what they're thinking. But draft experts agree the Heat would definitely take either Kansas State forward Michael Beasley or Memphis point guard Derrick Rose with the No. 1 or No. 2 pick. But opinions differ from there.
Many seem to think if the Heat, which needs help at point guard and center, gets the No. 3 or No. 4 pick it would choose among Arizona point guard Jerryd Bayless, Stanford center Brook Lopez and UCLA power forward Kevin Love.
"Bayless could help them," said an Eastern Conference scout who requested anonymity. "Love could help them. Lopez could help them.
"Is there somebody (at No. 3 or 4) that makes an immediate impact? I don't know."
But the consensus is the draft is good enough that the Heat, which is ensured of at least the No. 4 pick by virtue of having the worst record in the league, would find it tough to blow the pick.
"There's liable to be six or eight or 10 (good) choices," said NBA draft guru Marty Blake.
Among the darkhorse candidates right now if the Heat gets the No. 3 or No. 4 pick: Louisiana State power forward Anthony Randolph, Italian forward Danilo Gallinari, Texas point guard D.J. Augustin, and Kansas forward Darrell Arthur.
SEASON HIGHLIGHT: Not many. Perhaps securing the worst record in the league. Seriously. It assures a top-four pick and helps move along the rebuilding process.
TURNING POINT: The November practice run-in between coach Pat Riley and former center Shaquille O'Neal. Alonzo Mourning had to intervene before it got physical. It was at that point the relationship between Riley and O'Neal hit the breaking point. That led to the February trade that brought Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks and signaled the Heat was giving up on the season.
