Michael Ventre

On the surface, Pat Riley has little in common with the late Red Auerbach.

Auerbach is a god in the Boston Celtics’ sky; Riley has pledged his loyalties to more than one NBA logo over the years, but is probably most associated with the Los Angeles Lakers. Auerbach liked to smoke big, smelly cigars; Riley preferred cigarettes, although he may be done with them now. On top of Auerbach’s head was skin; on top of Riley’s was enough oil to tempt OPEC.

But Riley is like Auerbach in one sense: He likes to believe he’s shrewder than his peers. And this week, he gets a chance to prove it.

On Thursday, the NBA will hold its draft, and during it Riley will hold the cards. Technically the Chicago Bulls are in control of the day, because they own the top overall pick. But it seems certain that they will draft hometown product Derrick Rose out of Memphis, partly because if they don’t they risk looking like the Cleveland Cavaliers would have looked like if they had passed on LeBron James and taken Darko Milicic instead.

The draft's second pick will be the fork in the road. And Riley will post the sign.

Somewhere in Miami, the Heat's team president is stretched on a chaise lounge, in shorts, shades and Tommy Bahama shirt, a glistening mojito within arm’s reach, and a cell phone in his top pocket. He is fielding calls for the pick, and for interest in forward Shawn Marion. Like Auerbach, Riley isn’t simply interested in improving his team. He wants to snooker the guy on the other end of the line.

Said Riley shortly after the draft lottery landed Miami the No. 2 selection: “It’s a position in which you can leverage and do a lot of different things.”

Yes, like torment the remaining selectors.

Video   Mad Dog Minute: NBA Draft Preview June 23: The Chicago Bulls can't go wrong with Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley, but which is the smarter choice at No. 1? NBC Sports

Reports circulated Wednesday that Riley had soured on Kansas State’s Michael Beasley, even though Miami could use a high-scoring forward. The dreaded “character issues” were mentioned, but never specified. Most of Beasley’s problems seem to be in the area of attitude rather than actual brushes with the law. He attended seven schools in five years as a teenager.

Knowing Riley, a buzz-cut taskmaster without the buzz cut, he probably could envision trouble ahead trying to get Beasley to get with the program. So no matter what gifts Beasley has, Riley probably will look elsewhere.

And besides all that, Beasley measured just a click over 6-foot-8 at the NBA pre-draft camp, suggesting he might not be able to pull down 12 rebounds per game like he did in college.

But it could also be a ruse, too. Riley might be taking Bill Parcells lessons down in South Florida and sending out messages that he’s down on Beasley, which might make the Bulls wonder if he’s playing poker and take a closer look at Beasley. Then there’s an outside shot Chicago will take Beasley instead, which would leave Rose — Riley’s preferred target — available.

Unlikely, I know. But in Auerbach’s, er, Riley’s way of thinking, any subterfuge that might confuse the enemy is worth a shot.

If Chicago does take Rose, Riley is said to be leaning toward guard O.J. Mayo, with dark horses that include center Brook Lopez and point guard Jerryd Bayless.

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