In a move that surprises exactly no one, the Heat have exercised the third-year Rookie Scale Option to retain model-actor Michael Beasley through the 2010-2011 season.
Less sure, but not shocking, is the fourth-year option cashed in on Daequan Cook.
"I wasn't really thinking about [whether or not the Heat would keep me]," said Beas, because the second overall draft pick, first-team All Rookie selection, and Cornerstone of Heat Future isn't exactly Ryan Leaf. In fact, he's looked awfully good this preseason (17 points, 7 rebounds/game), a relief after an inconsistent rookie year found him learning how to be in the NBA as much as play for it.
(Inconsistent, sure, but if only our own brand of up and down was a (legal) Beaslian high.)
The move to exercise comes in advance of the NBA's October 31 deadline. It also secures the first two players on salary for the 2010-11 season, which is nice, because we like to think somone's gonna be around if Dwyane Wade bolts for THERE ARE NO GREENER PASTURES DWYANEKINS DON'T DO IT! DON'T LEAVE US!
Ahem.
Sorry about that.
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So who else will be around? Wade holds an option, James Jones has a guarantee, and the Heat hold an option on Mario Chalmers. If those three stick, plus Beasley and Cook, the heat will have an estimated $22 million to spend elsewhere, cherry-picking from the current roster and hopefully nabbing the long-promised superstar complement to Wade.
It's nice, though business as usual, that the Heat have begun building a roster for next season, because there wasn't much consistency last year and the injury-plagued pre-season has them still using what Jermaine O'Neal calls "makeshift lineups." (Jermaine O'Neal, at this point in his injury-plagued career, is actually a makeshift human. So he knows.) Continuity is continuity, even if its on paper.
Janie Campbell likes to imagine exercising options goes down like knighting ceremonies, wherein Pat Riley wields a sword. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the Internet.
