Six years ago, Michael Beasley was one of the best young basketball players on the planet, a combination of size and scoring ability that would surely take the league by storm once given the opportunity. Two years ago, the Los Angeles Lakers were in a similar position, a franchise on the rise ready to begin a new era of Hollywood success.
Michael Beasley and the Lakers need each other
Not long ago, we had such high hopes for both Michael Beasley and the Lakers. On Wednesday, their workout reminded us of where they’ve ended up.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
On Wednesday, the Lakers brought in Beasley for a workout, possibly in anticipation of offering the forward a one-year contract.
Rough outlook for L.A.
Rough outlook for L.A.
Oh, how times have changed.
Just months ago, the Lakers were still talking a big game and aiming their sights towards marquee free agents such as LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. They eventually got a meeting with the latter, but couldn't sell anyone on a future with an aging Kobe Bryant and his monstrous contract sucking away valuable cap space.
The reality is simple: Los Angeles was never really a serious suitor for those players, not once Dwight Howard left the team and Kobe got his mammoth deal. As Tom Ziller explained earlier this month, that contract was inevitably going to hamstring the team's attempts to rebound from losing Howard, no matter how Bryant recovered from his different health issues.
Instead of a star-studded offseason signaling the Lakers' resurgence, we've seen Jeremy Lin and the Jordan Hill re-signing. This isn't to say that all is lost, but as long as an aging Kobe takes up so much of the Lakers' payroll, few teams around the league will be as handicapped financially when dealing with players.
Beasley, on the other hand, saw his downfall come earlier.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 draft, Beasley was a full-time starter by his second season and averaged 19.2 points per game as a member of the Timberwolves in 2010-11. He was always hounded by character and work ethic questions, however, and has steadily seen his playing time decline since that season.
By last year, Beasley was a fringe contributor on the Heat, averaging 15.1 minutes over 55 games. No longer saddled by any pressure, he actually provided some fairly efficient production, averaging 18.9 points per 36 minutes while shooting 50 percent from the floor.
That didn’t earn Beasley much attention this offseason, though. Despite his pedigree, age and size, teams don’t seem especially interested in his services, even on a low-risk deal. The workout with Los Angeles is one of the first we’ve heard in media reports this summer, and it might not even lead to a contract offer.
Despite his pedigree, age and size, teams don't seem especially interested in his services, even on a low-risk deal.
But this is where Beasley is at, and this is where the Lakers are at. Right now, we’re talking about a befallen player working out for a befallen franchise. Things can surely go up from here, and for Los Angeles, that rebound is almost inevitable. But in a single workout, we were reminded of how hard making it in the basketball world can be.
Beasley and the Lakers, once upon a time, seemed ideally positioned for future success. The No. 2 overall pick was going to be partnered with Dwyane Wade in Miami, or at least become a scoring whiz somewhere else, and the Lakers were going to become Howard's team, transitioning from one winning era to another.
What’s happened since is just another reminder of how fragile a successful future can be, even when all the pieces seem to be in place. Whether it’s a single player or an entire team, so many things need to come together at the right time for there to be success. When they don’t, you’re usually left scrambling to make the best of what’s left.
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