Back in 2008,No.2 pick overall draft pick of the Miami Heat, Michael Beasley, was considered one of the best young prospects in the NBA. His size, athleticism, and natural scoring ability made him a promising athlete in the sports league. His rise to stardom, however, was short-lived due to a string of on-court and off-court issues that have become a constant distraction in his career.
But even though Beasley has been a journeyman in his six seasons in the NBA, somebody is going to give the NBA player another chance this year because of the 25 year-old's talent. And that somebody would probably be the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles, the Lakers are considering signing Michael Beasley. The former Miami Heat forward for a workout at their El Segundo, California, practice facility on Wednesday, according to multiple sources.
"[Beasley] looked very good and he has been working ou. A tiny rust from layoff, but [he] did a good job," one source said.
Beasley has played for three teams - Miami, Phoenix and Minnesota - in his six years in the NBA. He has career averages of 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The Heat utilized him sparingly in their small-ball system last season, in which he averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game.
But should the Lakers take a gamble on the young but troubled forward considering that all the teams he has played for have already gave up on him? According to a Bleacher Report, bringing in Beasley should be beneficial to the team. The sports blog wrote, "What would make Beasley a smart addition to the team is his ability to play either of the forward positions. The Lakers already have Carlos Boozer, Julius Randle and Ed Davis at the power forward position, but Beasley could be the safety blanket when Boozer falters in the defensive zone or if Randle struggles to acclimate to the NBA."
James Herbert of CBSSPORTS also believes that the Los Angeles Lakers are in a situation where they can roll the dice on individuals who have clear talent and hope that they can rise above their own personal issues and become the players that they were made to be. The Lakers', with Kobe Bryant and Byron Scott in the roster, may just be the team that Beasley needs to revive his career and take his game to the next level.
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