Michael Beasley

Last season, as a member of the Knicks, Beasley appeared in at least 70 games for the first time since 2012-13 with the Suns. He averaged 13.2 points across 22.3 minutes on the year, but showed off top-shelf scoring ability when given extended run. In the 14 games that Beasley garnered between 30-39 minutes, he registered 23.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and over a block while posting a 61.3 true shooting percentage. Opting to move on from New York, Beasley signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Lakers this summer. Playing in his age 30 season, Beasley will come off the bench for LA, seeing time behind LeBron James and Brandon Ingram. That, combined with the Lakers’ wing depth in general, will make it tough for Beasley to garner run similar to last season. Fantasy relevance isn’t out of the question, but it appears to be a longshot.

After playing just 20 games for the Rockets in 2015-16, Beasley had a nice bounce-back campaign with the Bucks, playing in 56 games. He averaged just 16.7 minutes off the bench, but was fairly effective in limited time, averaging 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds. Most notably, he showed a much improved deep ball, shooting a career-high 41.9 percent from the three-point line. He provided the Bucks with a nice offensive spark off the bench, which should be similar to the role he plays with the Knicks after signing one-year, $2.1 million deal with New York in the offseason. Beasley should be used as a scoring threat off the bench, though he'll have to battle with Lance Thomas for minutes as the team's backup power forward. If Beasley continues to shoot as well as he did from three-point land a season ago, that alone could earn him more minutes. That said, while Beasley could see an increase in playing time with the move to New York, it likely won't be by much, so he'll continue to be limited to a late-round flier of those in deeper leagues at best.

Mercurial as he is talented, Beasley began last season in the Chinese Basketball Association, tearing up the league to the tune of 31.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in 40 contests. Following the completion of the Chinese season, Beasley signed on with the Rockets in March and appeared in 20 games off the bench. The former No. 2 overall pick was surprisingly efficient, averaging 12.8 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting better than 52 percent from the floor. The Rockets were impressed enough to offer Beasley a fully guaranteed contract for the 2016-17 season, and he’s now likely to open the season as the top backup to free-agent addition Ryan Anderson at power forward. Beasley has the versatility to play both forward spots, but his shaky outside shooting makes him a difficult fit on the wing in new coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense.

Super Be Easy chemically induced himself out of Phoenix after just one season, and once he was waived, Beasley contacted the Heat with an offer they couldn't refuse. He agreed to sign with the team on a non-guaranteed contract. The Heat will get an exclusive look at Beasley through training camp and get to decide whether to keep him on the cheap through this season or to cut bait on him before he becomes an issue when the games matter. Based on where he's going to be ranked in drafts, fantasy players will be able to make a similar investment.

Beasley has never been able to transfer his immense physical talents into a productive NBA career. There are questions about maturity and work ethic, and despite featured roles with both the Heat and Timberwolves, Beasley has never really impressed. Despite those negatives the Suns gave him a three-year, $18 million dollar deal, which presumably isn't to keep him on the bench. Beasley will get the first crack as starting small forward, and could get enough minutes to have a fantasy role next season. He's a strong rebounder and scorer, albeit an inefficient one.

The former second-overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft was given the starting small forward slot at the beginning of last season, and he used the opportunity to post career-best numbers in nearly every category. Through 73 games played, Beasley averaged 19.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.8 three-pointers, 0.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.7 turnovers in 32 minutes. Despite a glut of swingmen on the T-Wolves, he should get most of the playing time at small forward with Kevin Love, Anthony Randolph and Derrick Williams seeing most of the playing time down low.

Beasley's first two NBA seasons have been so disappointing, it's easy to forget that he dominated college ball, posting numbers very similar to Kevin Durant's. The Pat Riley salary dumps that allowed Miami to sign the "big three" moved Beasley to Minnesota, where he'll have a chance for a fresh start. A surprisingly frank David Kahn attributed some of Beasley's struggles in Miami to excessive use of marijuana; the T-Wolves GM says that's behind Beasley now, that he's matured, and he's ready to make the most of his potential – we're cautiously optimistic about that. We're less "glass half full" about the state of Minnesota's frontcourt; Beasley will presumably split time with either Kevin Love at the four spot or top draft pick Wes Matthews at the other forward position; either way, he's unlikely to get starter's minutes unless Kahn swings another deal. The positional uncertainty isn't a new problem for Beasley; at 6-10, 235 he lacks the bulk to deal with many NBA fours, but in his NBA career to date he hasn't shown the perimeter game necessary to play the three full-time.

With Jamario Moon headed to Cleveland, Miami’s small forward spot appeared to be Beasley’s for the taking. However, the second-year player entered a rehab facility during the offseason, apparently suffering from dependency and emotional issues. It’s a serious situation, and one not totally surprising if you listened to the complaints Dwyane Wade had about his teammate. Hopefully Beasley will be better for it in the end, but playing in the NBA has to take a back seat at some point. It’s expected he’ll be ready for the opening game, but the talented enigma comes with plenty of question marks. After being the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, Beasley had a disappointing rookie season, but there’s still plenty to like from a basketball standpoint, as he averaged 16.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks during the 19 games he started last season, and even then that was in somewhat limited action (30 mpg). Because that also came with strong shooting numbers (47.6% FG, 80.7% FT), if his mind is right, Beasley is a fine target this year – though for someone who averaged 12.4 rebounds in college, more boards would be nice.

If Greg Oden wasn’t making his debut a year later than anticipated, Beasley would be the odds-on favorite to run away with Rookie of the Year honors. He might win it anyway. Easily the most NBA-ready of this year’s crop of rookies, Beasley had the good fortune to land in an ideal situation for instant NBA success. He won’t need to carry the Heat on offense – Dwyane Wade will do that. He won’t be the team’s savior or biggest name from day one. D-Wade has those tasks covered as well. Instead, Beasley will use his size, strength and remarkable athleticism to play second – or third – fiddle to Wade and fellow combo forward Shawn Marion. In summer league play, Beasley reportedly flashed a number of low-post moves and positioning tricks usually seen from five-year NBA veterans – don’t expect him to face the same massive learning curve adjusting to physical play that has stymied rookies in years past. And don’t forget, Beasley also has a very respectable perimeter game – he shot just under 38 percent from three in college.

Beasley, as a freshman at Kansas State ranked third in the nation in scoring with 26.2 points per game and averaged a NCAA Division I high of 12.4 rebounds per game. Throw in a .532 field goal percentage, a. 379 three point percentage, and a 1.6 block per game average and you have a complete player who will give the Heat a forward to play alongside Shawn Marion for years. It will be interesting to see if Beasley is playing more as a three rather than a four. It might take him a few weeks to get adjusted to the pro game and to work on his low post scoring, but when he does you have a complete player should be drafted early and owned in all formats.