Heat report: Getting inside
 

The Sports Xchange
 
 
Getting inside · Roster · Notes, quotes
 

Mario Chalmers has been the star of the Heat's summer league team in Orlando through the first three games of the five-game event.

Chalmers, projected by most as a first-round pick, slipped to Minnesota at No. 34. Miami acquired him for $2 million and two future second-round picks, and so far it's looked like a shrewd move.

Chalmers, who hit the game-winning three-pointer to give the Kansas Jayhawks the NCAA title over Memphis, was averaging 17.7 points and 7.0 assists per game through the first three. He was shooting just .346 (9-for-26) but was penetrating and getting fouled. He was 32-for-34 (.941) on free throws.

As for Michael Beasley, the second pick in the draft, he's doing OK. He was averaging a team-best 18 points per game and 8.0 rebounds through three games. He was shooting just .326 (15-for-46) from the field, however. And he'd committed a team-high 16 fouls and was tied with Chalmers for the team lead in turnovers at 11. Still, both players appear to be excellent picks at this time.

Beasley made waves by sustaining a cracked sternum in his first summer league practice. He was elbowed by a teammate in a non-contact drill. Beasley ended up wearing a specially-made pad.

"I'm going to play until my chest caves in," the former Kansas State standout said.

Beasley opened Summer League play with a 28-point, nine-rebound performance against Chicago, doing most of the damage against Joakim Noah. Beasley was so giddy at one point late in the game he was singing. Bulls' players jokingly told him to stop.

"They kept telling me to stop singing, and I didn't want to," Beasley said. "I was happy, singing a happy song."

Chalmers has made waves with his overall court command, defensive skills and offensive aggression. He outplayed Chicago's Derrick Rose in Game 1, and then put up 19 points and nine assists against New Jersey in Game 2. The way things now stand for the Heat there is an outside chance Chalmers ends up as Miami's starting point guard.

The Heat signed F James Jones, who was third in three-point shooting percentage last season in Portland. Jones signed a five-year, $22 million contract but only the first two years are guaranteed. Jones' starting salary of $4 million eats up a big chunk of the $5.5 million mid-level exception, so the Heat doesn't have much money left to get a free agent point guard. In addition to Chalmers, Miami has Marcus Banks. G Chris Quinn is a restricted free agent and was given a qualifying offer. He'll likely return, leaving Banks, Chalmers and Quinn to compete for point guard minutes if no one else is acquired.

Copyright (C) 2008 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

 
 


CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. SportsLine is a registered service mark of SportsLine.com, Inc.