NBA Draft: Every NBA team’s worst draft pick

21. Miami Heat – Michael Beasley (2008)

If there was a song that perfectly suits Michael Beasley, it’s “Don’t Believe the Hype.” Coming into the 2008 NBA Draft, the two hottest draft prospects were Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley because of their accomplishments in college. And sure enough, they went first and second overall, respectively. It’s debatable whether Rose has become a bust, although Beasley without question deserves the label.

Michael Beasley was an absolute monster at Kansas State. In his only year at college, he recorded an astonishing 28 double-doubles and often put the team on his back and won games by himself. Against eventual champions Kansas, he scored 39 points and 11 rebounds in Allen Fieldhouse in a losing effort. That he was a lottery pick wasn’t questioned, nor was the fact that he got selected second overall. But his play during the NBA left much to be desired.

He showed flashes of potential plenty of times throughout his career. He scored 30 points in his second season and 42 when playing with the Timberwolves, but his weed-smoking habits prevented him from realizing his full potential. He was in trouble for it ever since his rookie year, even checking himself into rehab at one point, and when he played for the Suns, he was arrested for possession prompting the team to release him.

It was only a year later where he started playing in China – presumably to get his career back on track – but subsequent attempts to get back with the Heat on 10-day contracts proved futile. However, he was named league MVP just this year with the Shandong Golden Stars – the Rockets took notice of that and signed him since they were that desperate to get into the playoffs.

As it turned out, it worked. Beasley’s 12.8 points per game during the home stretch propelled Houston to a .500 record and a first-round matchup with the Golden State Warriors, although it remains to be seen if he will stay on with the Rockets after this season.

Next: 20: Atlanta Hawks