Michael Beasley: A Bust?

[Kenny]

Read this article on my lunch break at work today and thought it'd be interesting to see what people think.

Personally, I still think it's way too early to call. The guy's still young and he still have massive potential... not to mention Spoelstra doesn't seem to like him all that much. I'd like to see a few more seasons of him before calling him a bust.

[NovU]

No he isn't a bust. He's just underachieving grossly. That's all. As for not much interests shown by teams to get him, it's his allegedly known attitude problems on and off the court. Otherwise, he still possesses good potential and much room to grow. I am sure there'll be plenty of takers, if Riley really wants him traded.

[Andrew]

We fans and the media alike seem to employ a few double standard when we throw around the "bust" tag. Sometimes we're really generous, waiting years because of a player's potential and making excuses as necessary, other times we slap that label on a player when he fails to tear up the league with All-NBA numbers in his first couple of seasons in the league. Beasley seems to be an example of the latter.

Right now, I'd go so far as to call him a disappointment, a player who hasn't lived up to the hype and who wouldn't be the number two pick if that Draft were held again today. I agree it's too soon to be pulling out the bust label, whether he remains with the Heat or not he still has ample opportunity to prove himself and at least a few more years before he can fairly be deemed a flop. I'd also agree with ZanShadow that underachieving is a good word to use here.

And as Rip32 noted in another thread, just because a player isn't worthy of their draft selection in hindsight or players picked after them went on to have more successful careers, it doesn't automatically make them a bust. If Beasley ends up having a solid career that spans a decade or more then he isn't necessarily a bust; just a player who was overvalued in his Draft class and didn't quite live up to the expectations.

[Murat]

I heard that he used marijuana at August 2009...also its right...he is a drug...
But his stats are: 14.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 29.8 MPG

The chance is: Playing at Euroleague...

[Alpha_]

He's not a BUST!

[Martti.]

He's definitely not a bust.

One of the reasons is that everyone thought he was 6'11 coming out of college, but he turned out to be 6'9. Though his 6'10 now.

If he had gone to some other team like Minnesota, he would have done much better. He's the guy who needs the ball a lot to be effective and with D-Wade, a perimeter-type PF doesn't really fit. Plus, Miami was one of the best defensive teams last season and that's not one of his specialties, which is why Spoelstra used Joel Anthony and Haslem late in the game.

A trade would do him good, some team where he could get more touches. But I'd like if the Heat got something back too other then cap space, a decent point guard for example.

[dare]

As the others said it's too early to call him a bust, not all no.2 pick are supposed to be a star. I think all he need is more experience and maybe a better system. I certainly could not see him playing at the Euroleague.

[The X]

He's obviously not a bust. Right now if he had stayed in college, he'd just have finished his junior season & have one year of college eligibility left. Nothing to worry about. Obviously Westbrook, Lopez or Love would probably be a better fit for Heat's system, but he was the right pick at that spot on the day.

I think he is easily capable of turning into a 20-7 player, much like Glenn Robinson was for Bucks back in the day, or better & he'll have a solid career.

[Lamrock]

I'd say so. He was a dominant college player taken ahead of the likes of Brook Lopez, Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook and has sucked so far. Sure, he's young, but his lack of improvement (and arguable regression) in his sophomore season coupled with the fact that he's being shopped for cap space does not bode well.

You can't really fault the pick as he was arguably the best prospect in that draft (I was calling for the Bulls to take him). I don't buy that Miami was the wrong team for him. You couldn't ask for a better situation. He just blew it.

[Andrew]

It's a huge fall from grace, no question, but isn't it still a bit early to declare him a bust?

[Static]

He's young and has the time to get better. I'd agree with those who have said he's underachieving more so than a bust because Beasley has proven that he has the fundamentals needed to be successful in the NBA--it's just in the execution and the mental commitment to the game where he seems to have struggled the most.

[Rip32]

Like Andrew noted, he's not a bust because he's so young. If we were calling players busts after two years half the league would have been a bust at some point in their careers.

I think thus far in his career he's been a bust at his draft spot, not necessarily a bust as an NBA player. He hasn't really improved from year one to year two, which isn't ever a good sign, but like Lamrock said, he's 21 and should be a senior in college at KSU. I read an article in SLAM about KSU guard Jacob Pullen who played with Beasley his freshman year. Apparently Beasley tells him that he made a mistake leaving school early and wishes he would have stayed.

Beasley dominated college both scoring and rebounding. Usually you don't just fail at both of those things in the NBA if you're that good in college. I don't think his head is always in the right place, which plays into his lack of improvement and overall negative play on the court.

How about this idea? Say Miami gets Bosh this summer, could that somehow help Beasley find his way in the NBA? If the Heat build their rumored super team of LeBron-Wade-Bosh and still have Beasley on roster it wouldn't be insane to think those vets could have the same kind of impact on him that Allen-Garnett-Pierce had on Rondo and Perkins. Maybe Beasley won't improve as quickly as Rondo, but having a guy like Bosh around definitely wouldn't hurt the guy's career. Well, maybe just a lot of his playing time lol.

[Andrew]

I think thus far in his career he's been a bust at his draft spot, not necessarily a bust as an NBA player.

I think that's a good way of putting it. If the 2008 Draft were being held again today then there's no way he's going second overall, but it's too soon to write him off as a failure as a pro. If in two or three years time he's playing sporadic minutes off the bench having been traded a couple of times and struggling to hold down a roster spot having shown no improvement then sure, it's getting to the point where the bust tag is appropriate. Until then he's been disappointing and underachieving, certainly a flop as a second overall selection, but not a complete bust.

He hasn't really improved from year one to year two, which isn't ever a good sign, but like Lamrock said, he's 21 and should be a senior in college at KSU. I read an article in SLAM about KSU guard Jacob Pullen who played with Beasley his freshman year. Apparently Beasley tells him that he made a mistake leaving school early and wishes he would have stayed.

Beasley dominated college both scoring and rebounding. Usually you don't just fail at both of those things in the NBA if you're that good in college. I don't think his head is always in the right place, which plays into his lack of improvement and overall negative play on the court.

Staying in college might have helped, but then in all fairness it might've just delayed the inevitable. Perhaps he plays a couple more years or goes the full four before entering the Draft and enters the NBA better prepared, but perhaps nothing changes or he ends up like Adam Morrison. Sometimes the skills just don't translate to the NBA level and some players just don't seem to be cut out for the pros for one reason or another, despite seeming to have the talent.

How about this idea? Say Miami gets Bosh this summer, could that somehow help Beasley find his way in the NBA? If the Heat build their rumored super team of LeBron-Wade-Bosh and still have Beasley on roster it wouldn't be insane to think those vets could have the same kind of impact on him that Allen-Garnett-Pierce had on Rondo and Perkins. Maybe Beasley won't improve as quickly as Rondo, but having a guy like Bosh around definitely wouldn't hurt the guy's career. Well, maybe just a lot of his playing time lol.

I certainly think there's something to that. First and foremost, it would demand less of Beasley, allowing him to take a smaller role which would have to make him feel more comfortable as he continues to develop his game at the NBA level, with Bosh as a mentor. Depending on whether LeBron is there as well, it would also allow him to spend more time at small forward.

[Static]

Personally, I think it's got to be a mental thing more so than anything. Beasley clearly showed flashes of talent in college that did not lie..and he has the ability to be a big-time scorer and rebounder.

[Andrew]

Absolutely. Plenty of talented players have had their careers derailed or potential unrealised due to attitude, work ethic and the like.

[Sauru]

beasley and kwame brown should just quit the nba and form a 2 on 2 street ball team in canada see how they do there

[Andrew]

Perhaps Derrick Coleman, Antoine Walker and Isaiah Rider could coach in that league.

[Axel The Great]

Don't forget Starbury!

[Static]

probably the one and only basketball context where you'd ever have rafer alston contending for mvp.

[Axel The Great]

No, the 60th picks of every draft.

[Murat]

Chris Washburn? He was a bust too. Michael Beasley is as bust as Chris Washburn.

Beasley: Used marijuana at August 2009.
Washburn: Banned by NBA, because failed at three drug tests.

[Oznogrd]

Chris Washburn? He was a bust too. Michael Beasley is as bust as Chris Washburn.

Beasley: Used marijuana at August 2009.
Washburn: Banned by NBA, because failed at three drug tests.

Umm...what the hell are you talking about? His weed use has nothing to do with his court performance.

[Sauru]

i think badger makes the least amout of sense ever. on any topic. i actually think he just randomly puts words together and goes with it.

[IcemanOutlaw]

not a bust, there are many late bloomers though

[Axel The Great]

i think badger makes the least amout of sense ever. on any topic. i actually think he just randomly puts words together and goes with it.

He's been doing that in his last 982 posts.