The #2 overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft, Michael Beasley, is on his way back to the NBA after just completing a successful season with the Chinese Basketball Association. According to Marc Stein, The Rockets and Beasley are negotiating a deal to bring him back stateside.
The Houston Rockets are fighting for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with the Utah Jazz and are seemingly looking to bolster their frontcourt with a month and a half of the season left.
Beasley successfully fulfilled his contractual obligation to the CBA after his team was eliminated from the playoffs recently. Ironically, Beasley has been working on his best Stephon Marbury impression whole playing overseas, dominating the competition and developing an urban legend of his own.
Former Heat teammate Dwayne Wade commented: “I haven’t talked to him, but I noticed. “I want to know who he’s playing against. But he’s a talent. He’s done well in China, man. It’s not a bad thing to go somewhere and to be wanted and feel confident in your abilities. Good for him.”
In Beasley’s most recent CBA season he averaged 31.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.3 blocks, and was just named the MVP of the season. While he’s putting up his Kansas State era numbers overseas, the talent pool doesn’t exactly translate that way to the NBA, especially this late in the game.
The main thing going for Beasley and the Houston Rockets is he’s ready to go now; he’s in game shape and his confidence should be at an all time high. The only potential barrier in terms of live-action would be coaching schemes. There probably wasn’t much of that on his most recent team.
For Beasley’s sake, it’s a matter of accepting the role he’s given on a Houston team although it may not be an extremely favorable one. Houston’s frontcourt is already a bit crowded currently with Clint Cappela, Josh Smith, Montrezl Harrell, and Terrence Jones all volleying for playing time. Evidently someone from that group, maybe even Beasley, is going to have to play the “insurance” role of stepping in if someone gets hurt.
On Houston’s end, they need to properly utilize Beasley for him to provide the most return on their investment. That may be hard to do while managing personalities like James Harden and Dwight Howard. Unfortunately, their may not be enough shots to go around for someone who for the past few months is used to putting up 30 a night. A Michael Beasley that has to use his talent’s in something other than scoring may present some challenges.
Some feel dropping Ty Lawson and replacing him with Michael Beasley doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Then again, you’re talking about a team who departed with Josh Smith then traded back for him.
Beasley’s deal will be for the rest of the season, with a team-option the following year.
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