The very thought of this is already scaring some Miami Heat fans. The two-time champions are considering bringing back Michael Beasley. Read more after the jump.
Reports of drug use, numerous run ins with the police and his volatile behavior has limited the career of an otherwise very talented player. Several of the Heat’s key veteran players are supportive of the signing of Beasley, and he has a strong interest in returning to the franchise responsible for taking him with the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft, sources told Yahoo.
Beasley had played for the Miami Heat for two seasons before Pat Riley traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2010 for draft picks and the salary cap space needed to make the Heat’s historic haul of LeBron James and Chris Bosh. He reportedly wanted to stay with the Timberwolves but they were uninterested in the retaining the troubled forward.
He was later signed by the Phoenix Suns who reached a buyout agreement with Beasley on the remaining two years of his contract last week. Beasley left Phoenix with approximately $7 million of the $9 million owed him on an original three-year, $18 million contract.
Beasley had two productive seasons with the Heat, averaging 14.1 points in less than 30 minutes a game. Beasley averaged a career-best 19.2 points for the T’wolves in 2010-11. He struggled in the first season of a three-year deal with the Suns, shooting 40.5 percent and averaging 10.1 points.
Beasley would be a relatively cheap pickup for the Miami Heat and high reward considering his talent level but that’s only if the Heat veterans are able to keep his behavior in check. At the current moment reports are saying there’s no deal imminent and no offer has been made but it’s still something to keep an eye on.
