Founder
The Miami Heat are bringing back a familiar face to South Beach, as they have signed former 2008 second overall NBA Draft pick Michael Beasley on Wednesday.
Beasley will sign a non-guaranteed deal with the Heat. He will make a little over $1 million if he makes the team once training camp rolls around next month.
Since last week, rumors came up of the Heat being possibly interested in Beasley after he was cut by the Phoenix Suns due to his recent marijuana possession arrest.
Beasley, who is only 24 years old, has more than enough time to get his act together and become what the Heat hoped he would have been when they drafted him. Miami struggled with Beasley in their three-year project with him, but he was able to post decent numbers. However, seeing how Derrick Rose fared, many suggested Beasley was a crystal-clear bust.
Now, with not many options, Beasley is getting a second chance to refuel his NBA career.
“Michael had the best years of his career with us,” Heat president Pat Riley said in a statement. “We feel that he can help.”
Beasley did post up good numbers when in Phoenix and the Minnesota Timberwolves, but he experienced a major drop down this past season in his statistics.
He was traded to the T-Wolves in 2010 following Miami's massive moves for getting LeBron James and Chris Bosh in free agency. With not enough cap space to get all three, Beasley ended up becoming the odd one out.
Now back with Miami, who are fresh off two championships, he could be the x-factor for the team's quest at a three-peat.
Beasley will likely be backing up LeBron off the bench, and more than likely could end up becoming the Heat's sixth man. Beasley will fit right in, I think, and will have major minutes at both forward positions.
It's a major gamble by Miami here, but it could be one that will pay off in the long run as the upcoming NBA season approaches.
