The Los Angeles Lakers have seen several big names, and even bigger personalities, come and go over the years. Attracting star players and building rosters around them is how the franchise does business, and that isn't changing anytime soon.
Sometimes, that can lead to tensions rising and bad blood brewing that carries over long after their respective time in Los Angeles ends. That appears to be exactly what is happening with a pair of former Lakers that fans will remember quite well.
According to longtime NBA insider Chris Haynes, Michael Beasley is considering a trade demand from the Miami 305 of Ice Cube's BIG3. Per Haynes, Beasley took exception to the franchise selecting Lance Stephenson with the No. 1 pick in the draft and is now weighing his options.
While Beasley and Stephenson's time with the Purple and Gold did not overlap, they have been considered basketball royalty since high school. They entered the NBA just two years apart and, in a way, were forced to reinvent themselves at the professional level.
With personalities the size of Beasley and Stephenson's, neither will want to give up the title of being top dog on a roster where they are considered priority players. That is going to lead to heads butting sooner rather than later, and in this instance, it has happened before the two even get a chance to share the floor as teammates.
It remains to be seen whether Beasley requests to be traded. Even if he doesn't, having this sort of reaction to a player just being drafted by the team you are a part of is not the type of response that would lead anyone to believe the two could work together.
Whatever happens, it will need to be figured out soon, as the 2025 BIG3 season is scheduled to open on June 14. If these two former Lakers cannot coexist on the hardwood, then Miami would be wise to get a trade out of the way ahead of Week 1.