Mayo Movin' Up Miami's Draft Board

We've spent a lot of time highlighting Pat Riley's ambivalence toward Michael Beasley, mostly because it makes for a great hypothetical sitcom. But now, what about the real draft implications of it?

There had been talk of Miami trading the pick. Now, the Miami Herald has started developing the other big possibility: That the Heat is considering O.J. Mayo at #2:

Judging by Heat president Pat Riley's recent itinerary and guard Dwyane Wade's Sunday semi-endorsement, there is growing evidence and confirmation now that this is at least a three horse race for Miami's No. 2 pick in the June 26 NBA Draft.

The first stop on Riley's tour of draft workouts was in Chicago to visit Mayo this weekend before heading West.

Article has some effusive, if empty, quotes from Wade, who has been working out with Mayo (and others) at Tim Grover's gym, and eaten several meals with the former USC star. The big issue, naturally, is how these two would fit together in a back court. Wade can playmake for days, but prefers to play off the ball. Mayo's not the ballhog some have made him out to be, but he isn't exactly a natural one. Do they cancel each other out, or between the two of them make a whole? If nothing else, though, Mayo the polar opposite of Beasley when it comes to attitude and age.

Some possible comparisons: Mike Bibby/Joe Johnson, Arenas/Hughes 2004-05, idealized LeBron/Delonte West

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