Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Beasley, once the talk of college basketball and the NBA Draft, is quickly becoming a “what could have been”.
The second overall pick of the 2008 draft, Beasley was a “one-and-done” stud. His speed and agility, paired with his height and length, made it a nightmare for opposing teams. If not for Derrick Rose, Beasley would have gone no. 1 to the Chicago Bulls. Instead, he found himself in South Beach.
The Miami Heat were rebuilding. Two years removed from their first championship in franchise history, GM Pat Riley was looking for someone to pair with Dwyane Wade. Beasley had the potential, and the ability to play the small and power forward position that matched well with Wade, but his maturity was far behind his skills.
Beasley’s first two season were solid. He averaged around 14 points and six rebounds per game. His numbers were not superstar-like, but there was great potential. However, that possible potential was masked by bad decisions, immaturity and penchant for underachieving. Riley had a vision when the 2010 offseason came, and that vision did not include Beasley.
Beasley was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, while Riley freed up cap space to eventually sign the “Big 3″. This could have been a huge opportunity for Beasley. A sub-par team, Minnesota was looking for a superstar, a main man to put them back on the road to success. Disappointingly, Beasley was not their guy.
Instead of relishing in the opportunity, Beasley underachieved and ran into problems with the law. In June of 2011, Beasley was ticketed for speeding and possession of marijuana in a Minnesota suburb. Shortly after, it was discovered that he had violated the league’s drug policy twice while with the Heat. That seemed to be the story of Beasley’s troubled career.
After two seasons in Minnesota, Beasley was on the move yet again. This time, the Phoenix Suns took a risk and tried to harness the skill and potential of a former collegiate star. Last season would prove to be Beasley’s worst as he averaged career lows of 10 points and four rebounds per game. He had even said that the marijuana use was behind him, but he was arrested on the possible possession of marijuana in August.
There’s the old saying that you “can’t teach old dogs new tricks”, but Riley thinks he can. Beasley is back where his crumbling career began and has been given a tremendous opportunity to rectify his career, but is it too late?
This is Beasley’s last chance to salvage his life and it can’t get much better. Surrounded by veterans and some of the greatest minds in the game, he won’t have the opportunity to screw up. LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Wade and Riley will hold him to the highest standards. Miami has too much on the plate to deal with for him to be an immature punk, and Riley won’t hesitate to release him if he becomes a distraction.
Beasley had all the makings of a superstar, but he was a victim of the “one-and-done” rule. His lone year at Kansas State catapulted him into immediate stardom and high expectations. The “one-and-done” rule gave Beasley no cares and no worries. All he had to do was play basketball for one year and the fortunes would come after. He just did not have the maturity to deal with that ultimatum, but what kid does?
Riley took a chance on Chris Andersen and it paid off. He also stood by Mario Chalmers and has made him into a crucial part of the team. If anyone can save a player’s career, it is Riley. It is not too late for Beasley, but the clock is swiftly approaching the final hour. Riley is Beasley’s only hope and if this does not work, Beasley will fade into the abyss and simply be known as a “what could have been”.
Shane Phillips is a Miami Heat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Smphil01, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
