The HEAT will open up Summer League play on Monday at the RDV Sportsplex against the Chicago Bulls.

The game will feature the much anticipated match-up between the top two picks of the 2008 NBA Draft – Derrick Rose, who was drafted first overall by the Bulls and the HEAT’s Michael Beasley. Despite the constant links to each other, Beasley told Miami media on Sunday that his focus won’t be on his good friend Rose nor will he fuel a Beasley-Rose rivalry.

“I don’t feel every time you mention his name you have to mention mine or vice-versa,” he said. “He has his career, and I have mine. We’ve been cool ever since high school and we understand that (we went first and second, respectively, in the NBA Draft)… but it’s a team sport. I have 12 other guys on my team. I’m not going to be (guarding) Derrick.”

In addition, Beasley will also get his first taste against true NBA competition as Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah are among the players listed on Chicago’s Summer League roster. HEAT Head Coach Erik Spoelstra says he doesn’t just want to focus how his top pick performs against Chicago’s big men, instead he wants to use Orlando to help Beasley work on his all-around game and help him and the other HEAT players get accustomed to the HEAT’s system.

“The number one thing is, obviously, defense and that won’t change here,” Spoelstra said. “I’ve challenged him to get out there and play hard and show his teammates that he’s playing hard and really be in tune with our concepts. I want to see him do a lot of things. I want him score the basketball, but I also want him to make players around him better.

“He’s going to be playing against NBA guys enough,” he continued. “Chicago has a great front line and that will be a challenge for him, but this is an opportunity for us to help him learn our system, get accustomed to how we do things.”

Beasley will join Mario Chalmers, Stephane Lasme, Kasib Powell and 10 others in representing the HEAT at the upcoming Orlando Pro Summer League at the RDV Sportsplex. Miami HEAT Assistant Coach Keith Askins will serve as the head coach during Summer League play.

In addition to Chicago, the HEAT’s five-game schedule continues with match ups against New Jersey, Indiana, Oklahoma City and Orlando. Summer League play will conclude on Friday, July 11.

The following is the HEAT Summer League schedule:

Monday
2nd Game: Chicago vs. Miami

Tuesday
1st game: Miami vs. New Jersey

Wednesday
3rd game: Miami vs. Indiana

Thursday
3rd game: Miami vs. Oklahoma City

Friday
3rd game: Orlando vs. Miami

* Games will begin at 3p.m. ET from July 7-10, and at 11 a.m. ET on July 11. Games will be played 20 minutes after the conclusion of the previous game.