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Trade Rumors Surround Miami Heat

Heat linked to trade talks with Bulls, Supersonics, Clippers and Timberwolves

Bulls trade details: Dwayne Wade to the Bulls in exchange for #1 pick, Tyrus Thomas, and Larry Hughes

MIAMI (CBS4) ― The sports world rumor mill is in overdrive with talk that the Miami Heat are listening to trade rumors for the #2 pick in the NBA Draft, and even to trade proposals involving star guard, Dwyane Wade.

After an abysmal 2007-2008 season, the Heat landed the number two pick in Thursday's NBA draft. Even though the Heat had the worst record in the league, the lottery system rewarded the Chicago Bulls with the number one pick.

It's widely believed the Bulls will use the #1 pick on Memphis PG Derrick Rose, who is from the Windy City. It's also no secret that many teams, including the Heat, covet having a point guard with the size, speed and strength of Rose.

But the rumors have picked up in the past days with news the Heat has reportedly had a few offers for their All Star guard, Dwayne Wade. One rumored offer is the possibility of a trade of Wade to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for the number one pick, F Tyrus Thomas, and G Larry Hughes.

Wade, only managed to play 51 games last season because of persistent knee and shoulder injuries, says he doesn't think he'll be traded.

The Heat are believed to be zeroing in on one of three players, F Michael Beasley, PG Jerryd Bayless, and one of that has pretty significant character questions, SG O.J. Mayo.

Mayo has recently been linked in ESPN reports to charges of receiving cash and gifts while he was being recruited and while a student at USC. He announced he was leaving USC just days before ESPN broke the story about the alleged wrongdoing of both Mayo and USC.

The biggest name player, and arguably the most athletic player, the Heat could take with the second pick, is F Michael Beasley. He has been slotted as the number one or number two pick since declaring for the draft.

Beasley's biggest question mark that follows him around is that he went to multiple schools while in high school. Other than that, there have been no major blowups that have been made public that Beasley has been involved with.

Many teams covet Beasley, most notably the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies definitely need a big man to fill up the post after trading Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. Beasley would then team up with up and coming star, Rudy Gay.

The Grizzlies hold the number 5 pick in the draft and could offer a deal including the #5 pick, F Mike Miller, and either G Kyle Lowry or G Mike Conley to the Heat for the number 2 pick.

One scenario that often comes up on Draft night is trading players with high dollar contracts that are expiring, in order to create salary cap space.

The Seattle Supersonics have offered the expiring contracts of Chris Wilcox, Johan Petro, and the number 4 pick for Miami's number 2 pick and Mark Blount, according to ESPN.com. The Heat would then be free to select either Mayo or PG Jerryd Bayless, in addition to freeing up a large amount of cap room for the 2009 season.

Bayless is a 6'3" point guard who averaged just under 20 points per game in his only season at Arizona. The 19-year-old point guard would team with Wade to form a dynamic, young tandem of guards. Then, when free agency opens up after next season and armed with cap space, the Heat could pursue players like Carlos Boozer and Elton Brand.

All of the rumors continue to swirl as the NBA world waits to see what Pat Riley's plans for the Heat are for the next few years.

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