Sam Smith

Pat Riley is kind of the Steven Spielberg of the NBA. Riley does blockbusters, daring, attention-getting and special for the summer. Like when Riley a few years ago got the biggest of the NBA sharks, Shaquille O'Neal. Riley couldn't wait until summer this time to pull off the latest stunning blockbuster, the trade of O'Neal as Riley's temple of basketball excellence in Miami became doomed. Previously, Riley built the Heat with the other-worldly Alonzo Mourning.

And now some of the rumors floating around in the NBA are that Riley is about to produce still another blockbuster.

Perhaps this time involving Dwyane Wade?

I strongly doubt it, despite all the denials coming out of South Florida that Wade isn't going to any of his five favorite places other than Miami. I hate to believe Riley, but I do.

Sacrificing the 2007-08 season was about getting point guard Derrick Rose to pair with Wade, giving the Heat the kind of big, perimeter game that Riley sees the NBA coming to now, and quickly returning his team to respectability.

That scenario seems over now with the Chicago Bulls getting the No. 1 pick. They're almost certain to select Rose, a Chicago native who is said to be anxious to play for his hometown team. So maybe you say, then the Heat should deal Wade and start anew. The speculative trade had Miami giving the Bulls Wade and the No. 2 pick for the No. 1 pick and a player or two, perhaps Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng.

Though that all breaks down because you want Wade to play with Rose. You don't trade Wade to get Rose. That's dumb, and Riley isn’t dumb.

That being said, the Bulls will get plenty of proposals for that No. 1 pick.

I believe the most aggressive will come from the Memphis Grizzlies, who are virtually out of business given the offensive mismanagement of absentee owner Michael Heisley. Heisley is probably the Western Conference's most despised owner for giving the Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol for virtually nothing just so Heisley could save money. His fan base is not as stupid as he thinks they are, and the Grizzlies' local interest is probably the poorest in the NBA.

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They need Rose to save the franchise, and it would be no surprise to see them offer Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Hakeem Warrick and the No. 5 pick for the No. 1 pick and a Bulls player, probably Andres Nocioni. Then the Grizzlies could draft Chris Douglas-Roberts later in the first round from the pick they received from the Lakers. That would give them an all University of Memphis backcourt. And would John Calipari come back as an NBA coach to lead them? It could save the franchise, though I doubt the Bulls will give up the No. 1 pick to anyone.

So it's to you, Pat, with No. 2.

I don't see Riley taking Michael Beasley, the consensus No. 1 or No. 2 pick by most talent scouts. Beasley seems just a bit too much of a prankster and immature clown to fit in Miami. There were his antics in six high schools of writing graffiti all over, organizing after-curfew games and mocking coaches during their serious talks.

The Heat stand to lose Wade if he declares for free agency after the 2009-10 season. They have to impress him — and now — and take the ball-handling burden off him.

It's why some around the NBA are saying the Heat is showing intense interest in USC's O.J. Mayo. Scouts say the Miami contingent at the recent pre-draft camp seemed to quiet down and pay special attention when Mayo went through drills. Smokescreen? No reason for it with the No. 2 pick.

I could see the Heat trying to swap Shawn Marion and the No. 2 pick to the Clippers for No. 7 and Elton Brand, though Mayo probably wouldn't fall quite that far. So that probably wouldn't work.

You figure Miami could get Mayo at No. 4 from Seattle, who might want Beasley to go with Kevin Durant. Would it be worth taking Chris Wilcox, Nick Collison and a point guard? I doubt it. Memphis has plenty of extra point guards and Gay, but Beasley makes little sense there as on a bad, disorganized team he'd make Derrick Coleman look professional.

You could say that Wade, even though he's just 26, is breaking down, that fall down seven times get up eight thing a bit too much for his body. It didn't happen to Allen Iverson for some reason, but anyone who hits the floor as often as Wade does usually pays for it. And Wade, too, is from Chicago, and he could be the All-Star scorer the Bulls have lacked since Michael Jordan retired. Would he even be worth the No. 1 pick if you think as the Bulls do that Rose will be a star?

Such a deal would give Riley Nos. 1 and 2 and he can rebuild with two potential stars. But it's difficult to see Riley having the patience to wait out two 19-year-olds, even if he isn't coaching anymore.

It's probably moot because the Heat's philosophy all seems built around what's best for Dwyane Wade.

What seems likely, however, is there figures to be a big player personnel show coming soon directed by Pat Riley.

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