Los Angeles Lakers give Michael Beasley 2nd workout
By Phil Watson
The Los Angeles Lakers worked out Michael Beasley for a second time on Wednesday, according to a report, and are the only team showing interest in the unsigned free agent.
Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders reported via Twitter:
I'm told that Michael Beasley had a second workout with the Los Angeles Lakers today. We'll see if the Lakers sign him.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) August 27, 2014
Beasley played last season with the MiamI Heat, who according to the Miami Herald, have a laundry list of reasons why they don’t want to bring him back, including inconsistency, a lack of trust in his defense, his inability to execute Miami’s defensive system and concerns about his maturity and focus.
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The Heat picked Beasley with the No. 2 overall pick out of Kansas State in 2008 and he was an All-Rookie selection, but finished a distant seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting behind Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, the No. 1 pick in 2008.
Beasley was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2010, signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent in July 2012, was waived by the Suns last September and signed with the Heat on Sept. 11.
In 55 games, he averaged 7.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per game—all career lows—and shot .499/.389/.772.
Under the salary cap, the Lakers can only offer him a minimum deal, but that beats what appears to be Beasley’s other option—not getting an NBA check at all.