Here's guessing Pat Riley would trade Michael Beasley for a gift certificate to Applebee's right now.

And that's, like, the Aileen Wournos of chain restaurants.

The Heat's would-be future didn't play a single second in the second half of last night's final playoffs loss. He never looked comfortable, never found his groove. And that, along with the Heat's performance, was indicative of the entire rest of the year.

"I'm tired of answering questions about Beasley not doing this, not doing that," said Dwyane Wade last week, because the questions surrounding Beez never did get answered. "It's on Michael."

Or maybe they did. What we learned is that Beasley isn't trusted, isn't dependable. Yet.

The Heat gave him plenty of opportunity, benching Udonis Haslem so that Beas and Wade could play together, develop chemistry, form a solid core moving forward. It produced a few good moments, but it clearly didn't happen.

And if the Heat are going to apply a scorched earth policy to the rest of the roster, they need to take one last look at Beez. If, as Wade says, that was his last first-round exit for a while, they need to take one last look at Beez. If they want to resign their superstar and make him happy, they probably will.

Truth is, both Beasley and the Heat might be better without each other. If the Heat can keep Wade -- and they will, let's get real -- and add Amar'e Stoudemire or Chris Bosh, wouldn't, say, a trade and pay for Rudy Gay, who's just as young, make them even better?

If the Heat can move Beasley, they can create enough room under the salary cap to sign someome who is at least as good right now, and twice as dependable. And why wouldn't they? No one is satisfied with where Beasley is right now, or sure about where he's going.

To be sure, the kid hasn't reached his ceiling. But if the Heat, who control free agency with an iron fist, are going to control free agency with an iron fist, that will include looking for a deal -- probably any deal -- for Beasley.

"He's a great kid and I know he wants it," Wade said last night after the game. "It's going to come one day for him. It wasn't now."

After a year in a frustrating holding pattern, it's the "now" that the Heat can afford to care about. And Beasley "isn't yet."

Janie Campbell is a Florida native who believes in the pro-set and ballpark hot dogs. Her work has appeared in irreverent sports sites around the internet.