Heat Sign No. 21 Pick OSU's Cook To Two-Year Deal, Look For Veteran PG Help Through Free Agency
Miami, FL (AHN) - One of the Miami Heat's main missions this offseason is to upgrade at the point guard position. With Gary Payton most likely leaving the team through free agency or retirement, the Heat are left with Jason Williams as their only point guard going into next season.
On Friday, they took their first step towards securing that position by signing first-round draft pick Daequan Cook to a two-year deal with team options for the following two seasons.
Daequan Cook is set to earn $987,000 his first season and $1,061,000 his second.
Daequan Cook became the third Ohio State player drafted in the first round during last Thursday's NBA Draft when the Philadelphia 76ers took the guard with the No. 21 pick. The Heat later sent the No. 20 pick, Colorado State's power forward Jason Smith, to Philadelphia in exchange for Daequan Cook.
Daequan Cook joined top overall pick Greg Oden and No. 4 pick Mike Conley Jr. as Buckeyes taken in the first round. All three left Ohio State after their freshman season.
The 6-foot-5 Daequan Cook was named the Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 9.8 points and 4.3 rebounds for OSU.
He scored 20 or more points six times in the team's first 13 games, but didn't score in double figures for the Buckeyes final 11 contests.
He can be an explosive scorer, but can also disappear for long stretches.
He will join the Heat's summer league program next Thursday along with new additions Joel Anthony, Jeremy Richardson and Marcus Slaughter.
While Daequan Cook is a talented athlete with a great first step and solid drive, he's not likely to see many minutes due to the reputation of Heat coach Pat Riley who leans toward veterans over youngsters.
The Heat are currently courting several free agent point guards to take the reigns of their backcourt. Former Miami High and University of Maryland stand-out Steven Blake is among their top choices. Blake had a consistent season last year in Washington before finishing it off in Denver. He's looking to lock down a contract that will bring him $6 million per year, which may be too rich for the Heat's blood.
Blake's mother Cindy hopes her local team can bring her son back home with an enticing offer.
''I hope Miami is the one, and I know he would love to play for Miami,'' Cindy Blake told the Miami Herald. "But he knows wherever he goes, this will be the biggest contract of his career and the biggest decision. He'll lean toward the best money and opportunity.''
Blake is also getting attention from the Lakers and Nuggets.
The Heat are also looking at the Bucks' Mo Williams, though he may also be out of their price range after averaging 17.3 points and 6.1 assists per game last season for an injury-depleted Milwaukee team.
Other available options on this year's market include Memphis' Damon Stoudamire, Derek Fisher, Chucky Atkins and the Clippers' Jason Hart.
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