Heat guard Dwyane Wade is an inspiration to some of the NBA's high-profile rookies.
Former Southern Cal guard O.J. Mayo worked out with Wade in Chicago in the weeks before Thursday's draft and aspires to be like the Olympics-bound star. Former Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless believes he faces similar questions about his natural position as when Wade entered the league.
Wade and Mayo worked out at Attack Athletics with renowned trainer Tim Grover.
"D-Wade, he's a great guy,"
said Mayo, who was drafted third by the Minnesota Timberwolves. "He's definitely the type of guy, as a young player like myself coming into the NBA, that you look up to and want to learn from. He's on top of the NBA and then been injured and taken a hard time, being hurt and not playing as well as he could last year."
Wade and Mayo became friends and shared meals together. Now Mayo hopes he can attain the same stature.
Bayless, who primarily played as a shooting guard at Arizona, said he and Wade share some similarities. Questions have followed Bayless about whether he is more of a combo guard than a point guard.
"We're both dynamic players,"
said Bayless, who had been projected to be picked as high as fourth but dropped to the Indiana Pacers at No. 11. He was then traded to Portland. "A lot of people labeled him as a combo guard coming out and he proved a lot of people wrong about how good he could be."
Wade, a shooting guard, was drafted fifth overall by Miami in 2003.
SPEIGHTS DRAFTED
The Philadelphia 76ers selected University of Florida forward/center Marreese Speights with the 16th overall pick.
"I'm elated for Marreese and his family,"
Gators coach Billy Donovan said.
Speights is the 10th UF players to become a first-round pick, and the eighth under Donovan.
DOWN THE LINE
Mayo, point guard Derrick Rose and forward Michael Beasley have differing visions of where they would like their careers to take them five years from now.
Rose, who was drafted first overall by the Chicago Bulls, is humble but was not shy about his goal.
"Hopefully not a star, but like a superstar,"
said Rose, a former Memphis point guard. "Something around a Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, [ Kevin Garnett], Paul Pierce. Hopefully my name will be mentioned there."
Intent on not growing up too fast, Beasley had trouble looking into the future.
"Five years?"
Beasley said. "I'll be 24. That's starting to get old."
ON THEIR OWN
Several top prospects sounded ready to leave behind their lives as college students -- particularly the simpler lifestyle.
Mayo, who is being investigated by the NCAA for alleged impropriety, including accepting tens of thousands of dollars in gifts, said he looked forward to the financial freedom. He also said he felt more prepared to live on his own.
