If the Miami Heat is to get any production from its recent draft class, it won't come until at least next season.
Combo guard Pat Beverley, the 42nd overall pick in the NBA Draft, has agreed to a one-year deal with European power Olympiakos and departed for Greece on Wednesday.
Beverley's agent, Kevin Bradbury, confirmed Wednesday that his client agreed to the deal earlier this week. The Heat, which spent $1.5 million to acquire Beverley from the Los Angeles Lakers in a draft-night deal, will continue to own his NBA rights.
``It was just a move we all felt was in the best interest of Patrick and the team,'' Bradbury said. ``It's an opportunity for Patrick to get a chance to really focus on playing point guard at a high level. We expect him to come back to the Heat next season ready to contribute.''
Beverley is the second of the Heat's two second-round draft picks to accept a deal to play overseas next season. Forward Robert Dozier, selected with the 60th and final pick, headed to Greece last month after he signed a one-year contract with Colossus Rhodes.
Whereas Dozier was always expected to spend a year developing overseas, the decision to ship Beverley was somewhat of a surprise. The Heat has only two point guards under contract: returning starter Mario Chalmers and fourth-year backup Chris Quinn.
Sending Beverley to Europe could be a signal that a follow-up move is in the works for the Heat. Miami has had varying levels of interest in veteran free agents Allen Iverson, Jamaal Tinsley and Flip Murray.
The Heat currently has 13 players under contract on the roster, two shy of the NBA limit, with training camp set to open Sept. 28. The team is also about $3 million above the league's $69.9 million luxury tax, which had been a factor in its deliberate approach to adding help.
Beverley had spent most of the summer working out at AmericanAirlines Arena and had also made promotional appearances. Heat president Pat Riley said after the draft he expected to see Beverley compete with Quinn for the backup job behind Chalmers, who started every game as a rookie.
Bradbury said Beverley is expected to compete for the starting job with Olympiakos, a popular team that has aggressively recruited NBA players the past few seasons and has former Hawks forward Josh Childress.
Posts: 205 | Location: miami | Registered: 23 December 2007
might not be so bad...he gets experience overseas and can come back next year being able to offer a lot more than he can offer now. Let's face it, do you guys really want to have Quinn and Beverly replace Chamlers if he gets injured? I DONT THINK SO!!
Posts: 205 | Location: miami | Registered: 23 December 2007
Originally posted by MIAART: might not be so bad...he gets experience overseas and can come back next year being able to offer a lot more than he can offer now. Let's face it, do you guys really want to have Quinn and Beverly replace Chamlers if he gets injured? I DONT THINK SO!!
I would like to see what Beverley has to offer. But that's just me.
So why did we pay the lakers 1.5 million dollars and give them a future 2nd round pick in a cash strapped season, for a guy that we aren't even going to try to use? =/
i dont think its a bad move at all. He gets alot of playing time over there and wil improve alot so when he comes back he will be more than ready to contribute. Its a smart move now we can go after Flip or a.i. definitely not tinsley we have enough scrubs.
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Originally posted by Nolio: So why did we pay the lakers 1.5 million dollars and give them a future 2nd round pick in a cash strapped season, for a guy that we aren't even going to try to use? =/
It doesn't make sense at all, but I think this was a pro-active move from his camp. I think they were getting a little antsy that the Heat hadn't made him an offer and took a good offer that was on the table before it was too late for Beverley. JMO
I think this is a good move so that in 2010, when (excuse my optimism) we get some good solid players, we can get Beverley back and ready to play for us.
To me it makes more sense to have him play now while the expectations are low for this team. There's nothing that can prepare you for 82 games versus the best players in the world other than going through that process.
Mario Chalmers was not the starting point guard for his college team and he did ok bringing the ball up the court and handing it to Wade. It's not that hard to do.
Well yea you got a point there Big Dee. Why in the world did we pay 1.5 for him??? maybe they see a future in him. I dont know man but this is a strange move. Maybe Riley did it because no one wants to take on Quinn's salary?? or Wright's?
Posts: 205 | Location: miami | Registered: 23 December 2007
