The former No. 2 overall pick—yes, second overall—in the 2008 draft has posed more questions than answers about himself in stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Phoenix Suns and two with the Miami Heat. A player once compared side-by-side with Kevin Durant is now a free agent generating little interest as August wears on.
But one team very much interested in "B-Easy" is the Lakers, ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin reported on July 30. McMenamin's source said of Beasley: "(He) looked very good and he has been working out."
Of course, plenty of time has passed since the workout—indicating that if the sides are in fact still interested, something is holding up a deal.
Basketball Insiders' Steve Kyler elaborated on Twitter:
The risk outside of basketball in bringing in Beasley pretty much goes without saying. His problems started right after entering the league when he was fined $50,000 for sneaking out of a rookie symposium. Beasley is also not a year removed from a marijuana citation, per USA Today, that led to his dismissal from the Suns before last season.
All of those factors obviously make guaranteeing a contract—rather than signing him to a 10-day deal—a tough sell for the Lakers.
But he was the No. 2 pick for a reason, even if he didn't deserve to be. His athleticism and pure talent on the wing is up there with some of the league's better players, he can torment defenders in isolation and—gasp—might even provide somewhat of a veteran presence on the bench unit.
Exonerated after his poor season in Phoenix, Beasley significantly improved last year in Mi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
