The former 2nd overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, Michael Beasley is in the news for all the wrong reasons once again. Beasley is a multi-talented player, but is an enigma off the court was released by the Phoenix Suns due to being arrested on suspicion of marijuana possession in August.
Beasley will be looking for his fourth team only in his fifth season as a pro. In my opinion I feel that Beasley is worth taking a chance on. The Phoenix Suns bought him out for around $9 million dollars, and his next contract could be around the league minimum.
Since leaving the Miami Heat Beasley has not been surrounded by a strong veteran presence in the locker room. Yes, he has played with good players, but answering to a Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem is different from answering to Marcin Gortat.
NBA teams should look at Michael Beasley as a low risk high reward situation. In the past year or so guys like Chris “Birdman” Anderson, Andray Blatche, and Nate Robinson have been the perfect examples of taking a low risk, and receiving a quality gain in return.
Despite all of the negatives off the court the talent is still there. Beasley has shown flashes of his potential, but when you are in a losing and toxic environment it is hard to harness that potential when it seems like you aren’t playing for much.
If I am a playoff team like the Spurs, Heat, or Pacers I would make a run at Beasley. At this point in Beasley’s career and he is nearing rock bottom. With a new culture and surroundings things could bode well for Beasley. If Beasley is in a locker room with David West, Tim Duncan, or LeBron James he can see what it is like to be the consummate professional.
It is also important that Beasley has a mentor a la John Lucas or someone of that stature, who has a great track record in helping troubled athletes out.
Time is ticking for Beasley, and more teams are shying away from him. Somebody needs to save Beasley before he ruins his career, or is his career already ruined?
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