Free agent small forward Michael Beasley has yet to find a team that he will call home in the coming 2014-15 regular season of the NBA. His former team, the Miami Heat, are apparently not interested in giving him an extension according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald who says says that Michael Beasley will "definitely" not return to the Miami Heat.
Jackson said, "No surprise here: Michael Beasley definitely won't be back with the Heat, agent Jared Karnes said Tuesday. The Heat never made an offer, preferring instead to sign journeyman Shawne Williams, whose career hasn't been nearly as productive as Beasley's."
Jackson reveals that the primary reason why the Heat declined to give Beasley another shot despite his potential is because the coaching staff lacked trust in his ability to play defense and were discouraged with his immaturity. The 6'10" forward averaged 8 points and 3 rebounds for the Heat on 15 minutes of play coming of the bench.
The Heat may have moved on from Beasley but the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be intrigued with his offensive gifts and were willing to give him a deal for the league minimum - something that Beasley is apparently not willing to accept, according to Bryan Rose of Fan Sided.
Rose wrote, "The former No. 2 overall pick has worked out for the Lakers twice and while no contract has been offered that doesn't mean Beasley's workout's didn't go well. In fact, it's believed Beasley (who is allegedly attempting to shape up this offseason) looked very good. So good, in fact, that he wanted more than a league minimum contract the Los Angeles Lakers were apparently willing to offer."
Ryan Ward of Lakers Nation, however, believes that the Lakers have all the leverage in the negotiation table given that no other team has shown particular interest with Beasley. If Beasley does decide to accept the minimum deal that the Lakers are offering him, then it would likely be for more playing time so he can prove his worth and increase his market value. But for now the Lakers remain simply intrigued with Michael Beasley but no deal has yet to made with training camp drawing near.
Will the Lakers give Beasley a shot this offseason or will they move on like what the Heat did? Only time will tell.
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