NBA Rumors: Miami Heat re-signing Michael Beasley is ‘longshot’

Many viewed the Miami Heat’s decision to sign forward Shawne Williams as the ultimate signal the team was not interested in bringing back forward Michael Beasley.

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Well, giving credence to that opinion, the Heat have announced Williams will wear No. 8, Beasley’s old number, next season.

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel was asked about what William’s number choice meant for Beasley in a recent mailbag and his answer won’t make the former No. 2 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft very happy.

"An adjustment still could be made if Beasley is brought back, but that is an increasing longshot."

Still, it’s worth noting that Winderman doesn’t completely rule out the idea of Miami re-signing Beasley.

"But it’s also not as if the Heat are mass producing Shawne Williams jerseys at this stage, either. While Beasley appears to be in the rearview mirror, the Heat still seems to be lacking on the wing, where the current options are Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Danny Granger, Reggie Williams, James Ennis and Tyler Johnson. There simply is not a lot of one-on-one creativity there, no one, really, other that Wade who can score off the dribble."

While the Heat could change course and bring back Beasley, it appears the most likely scenario for the Kansas State product is him signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Beasley averaged 7.9 points (49.9 percent shooting from the floor and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc) and 3.1 rebounds per game last season with Miami.