Signing Michael Beasley Would Be Another Lakers Mistake

We know the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in bringing in SF Michael Beasley. However, in my opinion it would be a mistake. Of course, most of the Lakers moves over the past couple of years have been a mistake.

There’s no need to run through the list of transgressions the organization has made over the past couple of seasons. I’ve done that before. The franchise is clearly trying to rebuild for the future while creating a roster than may have an outside shot at making the playoffs if everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, goes right.

Signing Michael Beasley, in theory, wouldn’t be the worst thing the Lakers could do. At 25 years old, Beasley still has the potential to be the scorer that most thought he would be in 2008, when he was drafted 2nd overall by the Miami Heat, behind Derrick Rose. While he’s been the cause of some trouble off the court, he still has potential and fills a need at the small forward position for the Lakers. I understand why the Lakers are at least interested in bringing him in. He represents a cheap, low-risk option and perhaps Byron Scott could get the most out of Beasley.

The Lakers have twice previously tried to acquire Beasley during the 2011-12 season while he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, though both trades fell through. Beasley has already played for three teams in his short NBA career – Miami, Minnesota, and the Phoenix Suns – but has yet to find an offense in which he has truly shined. His career averages are 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

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Who knows, maybe Beasley would shine for the Lakers. But if we put our hopes and dreams aside for a second, we’d be left with the reality that Beasley is another mediocre player who would just steal minutes away from players who could actually help the Lakers win down the line.

Do you really want Beasley, who has been in the league for half a dozen years already, to take away minutes from Ryan Kelly, Nick Young, or rookie Julius Randle? Those three players have a chance to be real assets on a playoff team down the line, assuming the Lakers land a franchise cornerstone once Kobe Bryant retires, especially Randle, who may very well develop into one of the best power forwards in basketball.

Is it worth it for the Lakers to take a flyer on a guy who’s proven time and time again that he’s nothing more than a left handed J.R. Smith with less range? Is it worth handcuffing Kelly or Randle to chase a couple more wins in a Western Conference that is absolutely loaded?

The answer is no. It’s not worth it. Those minutes that would have to be set aside for Beasley would only prevent other players from growing on the court. If the Lakers are to succeed down the line, the young assets need to be built into a cohesive unit that can win together. The Lakers aren’t going to succeed as a franchise if they continue to put road blocks in the way of their young players. That’s exactly what Michael Beasley would be: a road block.