Mike Freeman

The Heat were floating all week they were hesitant to take Michael Beasley because of unspecified character issues.

Nice try Riley.

But I'm betting by August, Beasley is found on South Beach, passed out, his head laying on some women's ample breasts, a Dos Equis in one hand, a basketball in the other.

Just saying.

South Beach has ruined more than one or two athletes.

South Beach has also ruined one or two copy editors at CBSSports.com as well.

So I hear.

Stop clapping YES foof!

Stern is back. The Timberwolves picked O.J. Mayo.

I like Mayo's game a lot.

But not his outfit tonight. He's got on some shoes that look like old school Pumas.

I have to say, however, all the draftees are dressed quite nicely this year.

No one is dressed like Joakim Noah, who went with the vintage circus clown look.

When I see Kevin Love, I think of him, at practice during the Final Four, tossing a chest pass from one end of the court to the next, and the ball going in. Wildest thing I've seen since Doyel's mohawk.

Italian Dino Gallinari just got booed. The Ugly American rears its head.

Then again, after watching Paul Gasol in the NBA Finals, booing of Europeans is understandable.

Some guy from the YES Network just keeps clapping his hands at various moments. Why? Go put on a skirt and cheer somewhere else, YES man. This is a working press area.

Gallinari just got booed again. Now I feel bad for the guy.

I'm kidding around but I think this guy can ball.

Just don't ask him to play defense.

YES guy just clapped again. Freak.

If you're losing your hair the way Van Gundy is, why not just shave it all off?

Just a question. Calm down.

Another clap from the YES foof.

Clock just went to zero. Let's get this draft started.

David Stern is at the podium. He gets booed, too. Didn't know Mark Cuban was in the audience.

Chicago is on the clock. The new coach is Vinny Del Negro who looks like he was one of the kids in "Welcome Back, Kotter."

Can't, for the life of me, figure out who the Bulls are going to take? Hmmm....

ESPN just showed a shot of the Bulls' War Room. No one was moving or talking. They made this pick in March.

Oh, shocker, it's Rose.
YES foof literally gives Rose a standing ovation. Sit down!

Rose puts on his Bulls hat. Luckily there are no wide receivers in the NBA or else Rose would be in trouble.

Trust me that line is funny.

NEW YORK -- Bob Huggins is here to support his  player, Joe Alexander.  Huggins doesn't have a beer in his hand so the night is off to a good start.

There are probably three to four dozen Michael Beasley supporters in the stands wearing white T-shirts. On the back of the shirts are the words "character issues." Just kidding.

There is an O.J. Mayo section in the Garden as well. And no, it's not agents bearing improper gifts.

The fans at the NBA Draft aren't nearly as obnoxious as NFL fans (read: Jets fans). There's 20 minutes remaining until the draft officially begins and no one has been arrested yet. At the NFL Draft, five people would be in the hoosegow by now.

Fans just started chanting "Jeff Van Gun-dy! Jeff Van Gun-dy!" That's probably a first for him.

ESPN just reported that Chicago is going to pick Derrick Rose. Whew. Glad they told us that. Had no idea until now.

That's like stating the Knicks suck.

Captain Obvious.

By the way, Shaq just lost another badge.

How does your ass taste? Apparently not very good considering the rapid pace police departments are dropping you Shaq.

By next week, Shaq will be demoted to crossing guard.

Prediction: The Lopez twins will be a marketing sensation.

Dick Vitale is on the jumbo screen here. Hearing him yelling on a normal television is bad enough, now he's a giant. Calm down Vitale. Stop yelling. This ain't the Final Four.

The most NBA ready player emerging from this draft won't be Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley.

It'll be Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Count on it.

...you'll need it.

If this deal goes through someone with the Raptors will need to light a fire under O'Neal who has been one of the more disappointing players in the last few years.

O'Neal will be 30 next season and has missed significant portions of the last few years because of injuries.

I think the main problem with O'Neal has been his lack of toughness and motivation. He's extremely talented but I also think he's soft mentally.

On the surface, Toronto wins this deal. However it depends on which O'Neal they get.

Will he be the often injured O'Neal with a soft streak or a newly motivated O'Neal ready to prove his critics wrong?