Miami Heat: Can young players, such as Daequan Cook, crack lineup?
MIAMI -- There is some question as to whether Daequan Cook will be ready to be a regular contributor for the Heat.
Considering Heat coach Pat Riley's preference for veterans since the team added Shaquille O'Neal and aimed for championships, the real question might be if Riley will give Daequan Cook a real chance to do it regardless.
The Heat on Friday introduced Daequan Cook, its first-round pick in Thursday's NBA Draft. Though Riley hasn't relied on the last two first-round picks, forwards Dorell Wright and Wayne Simien, he insisted Daequan Cook and the other young players have a legitimate shot at cracking the rotation.
"They've got to be players," Riley said. "Be better than the players in the rotation and force me to play them. We have a lot of veteran guys, and when I stand up and walk down the bench I always lean to the guy I am more comfortable with.
"However, I've never had a problem playing young players who can play."
Riley said the Heat got that kind of rookie in Daequan Cook, whom he said could contribute despite disappointing in his one season at Ohio State. Riley repeatedly praised Daequan Cook's shooting and said he has an "NBA-ready body" at 6 feet, 5 ½ inches and 205 pounds.
In fact, Riley suggested that Daequan Cook, 20, might end up in the rotation by necessity. With James Posey and Jason Kapono set to hit the free-agent market next month, the Heat could lose its two best 3-point shooters.
Riley said the Heat probably wouldn't be able to sign both Posey and Kapono, and might lose both. So, in that sense, Daequan Cook was a need pick, particularly since the Heat has no veteran candidate to back up Dwyane Wade at shooting guard.
Daequan Cook shot 42 percent on 3-pointers and 44 percent overall at Ohio State. He scored 20 or more points in eight of 13 games to start the season, but by the end of Ohio State's run to the national championship game Daequan Cook was on the bench and struggling with his shot—he played just nine minutes in the Buckeyes' loss to Florida in the title game.
It wasn't the season many expected from a heralded member of coach Thad Matta's sparkling recruiting class that also included No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden and No. 4 selection Mike Conley Jr.
"I really don't know why I didn't play as much going down the stretch of the season," Daequan Cook said, adding that contributing to Ohio State's run was "more important than what was going on between me and coach."
"I think those things made me stronger," Daequan Cook said of his up-and-down season. "It was a lesson for me."
Daequan Cook improved his stock with strong individual workouts. Riley said the Heat put Daequan Cook through a rigorous session and determined Daequan Cook was the best of the prospects the team auditioned.
"But it wasn't just about the workouts, it was his body of work in high school and college," Riley said.
Daequan Cook, a native of Dayton, Ohio, said he considered returning to Ohio State. But he said his performance at the Orlando predraft camp convinced him that he belongs with the best players in the world.
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