1. Michael Beasley
June 26, 2008: Selected Michael Beasley with the second overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft
At the time of the draft, the selection of Michael Beasley was easily justified. The Heat had come off a disastrous 15-67 season. They had traded away Shaquille O’Neal. They were without Dwyane Wade for a good portion of the season due to injury.
Also, the remainder of the roster was either past its prime or with little upside. Therefore, drafting a dynamic wing scorer to partner with Wade seemed a logical way to re-invigorate the Heat.
Beasley had just one year at Kansas State where he was outstanding, earning first-team All-American honors. He averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds on 53 percent shooting.
Chicago lucked out in the lottery and nabbed the first pick in the draft. Derrick Rose, who they took, and Beasley were considered the clear top two players of the draft. It’s hard to blame Riley for the pick, but the reality is it didn’t work out.
Overall discipline and dedication have been Beasley’s question marks. These red-flags didn’t embody the culture Riley established in Miami. It’s virtually the antithesis of two of Riley’s all-time favorites, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. The Big 3 also fall under this category.
Beasley played just two seasons with the Heat before getting traded to create cap room for James and Bosh.
Riley later re-signed Beasley, who was given second and third chances. His third chance came after a stint in China. That last sentence in itself shows just how far Beasley had fallen.
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The one-time No. 2 overall pick, selected ahead of the likes of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love and Brook Lopez, had resorted to playing in China to re-start his career.
This draft selection was by any measure the greatest blunder of Pat Riley’s illustrious Miami era. Luckily, the eventual signing of James and Bosh more than wiped away the ill effects.