Michael Beasley is one of the most entertaining players in the NBA. But the Los Angeles Lakers are his seventh team in 10 years and the mercurial talent hasn't lived up to the hype he came into the league with. Beasley was drafted with the second overall pick in 2008 and he came into the league with monumental expectations.
Things haven't worked out exactly as planned, but Beasley has the opportunity to be a big contributor with the Lakers and eventually develop into a fan favorite.
His history as a teammate is far different than what the narrative might indicate, he is supremely talented offensively, and he's always one of the most entertaining players on any team. In short, Lakers fans have much to look forward to with Beasley donning the purple and gold.
Offensively Gifted
Beasley is one of the most talented offensive players in the league. That may sound crazy, but with him, it's all about consistency. Beasley is primarily a slasher who is at his best when he's knifing through the defense — particularly on the left side of the floor.
Last season with the New York Knicks, Beasley stepped in for Kristaps Porzingis and provided a much-needed boost. He went for 30-plus points four separate times and in those four games, he shot 63 percent from the field.
Beasley was not always viewed as an efficient scorer, especially early in his career, but he put those notions to best last season. Beasley shot over 50 percent from the field and just under 40 percent from deep. He only took 1.2 threes per game last season, but his efficiency will make teams think twice about leaving him room to get off his shot.
Additionally, Beasley is a lefty which adds an interesting wrinkle for teams to deal with. That doesn't make or break Beasley offensively, but it adds a different element to the Lakers offensively.
The 6-foot-9 power forward will come off the bench for Luke Walton's squad and this should excite Lakers fans. Beasley came off the bench in 44 of his 74 games last season and he is capable of producing instant offense off the pine. He's always one shot away from catching fire.
Good Teammate
Beasley has had his share of issues in the past. He was a great teammate for most of the 2017-18 season with the Knicks, but he did have a few instances where he rocked the boat when it didn't need to be rocked. Last year, while he was enduring a cold spell, he shifted the blame to the team's ball movement and his teammates according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
“I can’t be the only one trying to figuring it out. We’ve got to figure it out together. We just don’t play the right way of basketball at times. And that’s frustrating.”
This quote looks bad for Beasley, but it's important to remember the context of the situation. The Knicks were fading fast and the team was in complete disarray. The team was without their best player — Porzingis — and were coming off their 11th loss in 12 games. Of course, those are the times where teams want guys coming together, but the Knicks were far past that point.
Jeff Hornacek was a lame duck coach who had already been involved in an altercation with Joakim Noah that ended with the big man's exile. It's hard to blame Beasley for his frustration in New York and the bright spots outshined the duller moments during his time with the Knicks.
Beasley has developed a reputation as being a distraction or a problem, but there's reason to believe that Beasley will fit in on the Lakers. For one, he has an excellent relationship with LeBron James, dating back to their time on the Miami Heat together. James always respected Beasley's talent according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
If there are any doubts about Beasley's talent, those can be put to rest. During their days in South Beach, Beasley would regularly beat James in 1-on-1 games. That's one way to gain James' respect.
Additionally, Beasley should fall in line with James as Los Angeles' leader. Beas looks up to and respects James “like an older brother” according to Des Bieler of the Washington Post.
“Somebody I learned from, somebody I always looked up to. He’s one of the few guys that doesn’t have to, but knows how to play the game the right way. And not only knows, but wants to play the game the right way.”
There are some obvious red flags with Beasley, but he's maturing with age and he's entering a very stable situation where he can follow LeBron's lead. Lakers fans should expect Beasley to be a model teammate.
Your Favorite Player's Favorite Player
There's a reason why Michael Beasley is one of the most likable and exciting players in the NBA. He's your favorite player's favorite player. He's been hot since January 9th, 1989. He's also willing to use 11 percent of his brain whenever necessary. In short, Beasley is an amazing quote just waiting to happen. He's funny and extremely clever which makes his postgame interviews must-see TV.
Lakers fans have already gotten a small taste of Beasley. He gave Dave McMenamin of ESPN ridiculously ambiguous answers when asked where the Lakers will end up at the end of the season. His answers hilariously twisted McMenamin into a pretzel as he tried to coax some kind of quote from the swingman. But Beasley wouldn't budge and McMenamin's attempts are consistently blocked by Beas.
Michael Beasley has all the answers for @mcten. pic.twitter.com/b9GttlG4sx
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 25, 2018
Beasley isn't perfect. He's not a great defender, he suffers from mental lapses from time to time, and he may voice his frustration occasionally. But he is fun to watch, he's a better teammate than he's given credit for, and he has an infectious personality. Lakers fans will soon fall in love with Beasley — if they haven't already.
The unpredictable talent is on a one-year deal so there are no guarantees for the future. My advice to Lakers fans: enjoy watching Beasley while you can.
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