Fansided

NBA Draft: Every team’s least popular pick ever

By Cody Williams

CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 30: Anthony Bennett
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 30: Anthony Bennett /
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Basketball: NBA Draft: NBA commissioner David Stern shaking hands with Miami Heat pick Michael Beasley during draft at Madison Square Garden. New York, NY 6/26/2008 CREDIT: David Bergman (Photo by David Bergman /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X80595 TK1 R4 F30 )
Basketball: NBA Draft: NBA commissioner David Stern shaking hands with Miami Heat pick Michael Beasley during draft at Madison Square Garden. New York, NY 6/26/2008 CREDIT: David Bergman (Photo by David Bergman /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X80595 TK1 R4 F30 ) /

Miami Heat – Michael Beasley (2008)

Perhaps one of the most surprising stories of the 2015-16 NBA season was Michael Beasley somewhat starting to revitalize his NBA career with the Houston Rockets. After playing in China in being a late-season addition, Beasley came to Houston and became a key offensive cog in their system off of the bench and played arguably some of the best basketball of his career for the 20 games he was there for. Even if that’s the start of something good, though, that’s not going to make him any more popular with the Miami Heat and their fans.

The Heat selected Beasley No. 2 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft after Derrick Rose went off the board at No. 1 and after Beasley had one monster year at Kansas State. Despite some maturity issues, there was no denying Beasley’s tools to develop into a quality NBA player.

What’s crazy though is that those tools are still there for him, but his character flaws have long been what held him back. He quickly developed a sense of being near uncoachable while also just acting like a clown far too often as well. That’s why he was pushed out of Miami after two seasons and did nothing of consequence when he later returned for two more seasons. Even if he becomes an All-Star from here, his popularity as a No. 2 pick for the Heat is all but gone.

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