Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Only six days after getting his walking papers from the Phoenix Suns, small forward Michael Beasley has found a new home in the NBA with the Miami Heat.
The Heat have invited Beasley to training camp under a contract that in no way, shape or form binds the team to the player they drafted with the No. 2 overall pick back in 2008. This will provide Beasley with an opportunity to get himself straightened out and show that he’s not the complete bust many have labeled him as.
You’ve heard it all before. The off-court issues, the drugs, the immaturity, the trouble with the law… All are things that have defined Beasley’s NBA career up to this point. All are parts of the reason why the top basketball prospect has been cut by three teams in five years.
Still, adding him to a talented Heat roster makes plenty of sense.
Surrounded by the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, Beasley will be back in Miami, where he enjoyed the most success of his short NBA career. Playing under Erik Spoelstra should help keep him in line, while his non-guaranteed contract will give him a reason to put his best foot forward. In general, the culture of playing for the Heat just fits his character and should provide a nurturing environment if he sticks around past training camp.
As ugly as his NBA career has been so far, there’s no denying that Beasley has the physical tools to be a quality contributor for the Heat. He has a troubled head on his shoulders – obviously his biggest crutch – but the raw talent is there. If Spoelstra and Co. can find a way to harness that talent, they could find a capable contributor in Beasley.
Put simply, it’s a low-risk move for the Heat. If Beasley struggles, they give him the boot having lost nothing. If he pans out, the Heat get a steal and Pat Riley looks like a genius.
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Gil Alcaraz IV is the Content Planner for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @GilAlcarazIV, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
