Heat forward Michael Beasley checked into rehab this weekend, according to Yahoo! Sports.

What a shame......

If it his own choice, it a great thing that he willing to seek help that he knows he needs.

Weed isn't a huge issue. I'm not going to say 80% or whatever of the NBA smokes it like Charles Oakley did, but I'm sure it's not exactly a stranger in NBA households. Heck, Luke Walton's dad is a Dead-head, you think there wasn't any smoke wafting through that house?

However, if that white stuff on the table is what I think it is, then there's a serious problem.


Also - first Rashard now this. My team is collapsing and it's not even Labor Day.

he's not a good fit in Miami anyway. I think he'll get traded in a year or two.

Even though it wasnt posted, I think this'll affect the attitude coaches have towards him and could make him a fantasy bust next year...

If he shows up to training camp and plays better then whoever else is on the depth chart it won't matter one bit what happened off the court for Beasley.

Yeah, Beasley's hardly the first stoner to don an NBA tank top. Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire - there's been lots of productive fantasy players who went green without buying a Prius.

that's all true.

and didn't Lebron James just recently admit to smoking pot.

Exactly, and you can add Robert Parish to that list. While winning all those championships in Boston he was receiving marijuana through the mail. If I recall correctly, he said it was nothing unusual and he had been receiving it for some time...I don't think he was suspended. Josh howard, Jason 'white chocolate' williams, mario chalmers, Chris webber, James edwards, Chris andersen, Isiah rider, brad miller got caught and was suspended, Zach randolph and darius miles also heard Dirk and Peja like the chronic. Kareem said once in an interview, after his playing days, that he smoked marijuana to relieve stress, and Lebron said he "used to smoke it in high school"...

Love the speculation that he is just a "stoner". But what drugs he did or didn't do is beside the point. The more serious problem is that he is reported to be suffering from depression. Give the guy a break until the full story comes out. It really isn't a fantasy basketball issue right now anyway, If you were counting on Beasley to guide your team to a title next year then your team never really had a chance to win anyway.

he's depressed because they won't let him smoke pot.
I mean, he posted a picture of a bag of weed on his Twitter account. then, the next day he had to shut his whole Twitter down. poor kid. but you know what, he'll get over it.

but seriously i don't think he'll ever be a great player. he's just too inconsistent, and he doesn't have that fighting mentality that great basketball players have. but he'll be a solid role player. the most his potential would ever reach is like a Tayshaun Prince.

What white stuff on the table?

...Beasley's offensive arsenal is leap years ahead of Prince bruh.
But the depression rumour makes me a little nervous because we all know that the NBA is a confidence league. Many talented young kids with self-esteem and depression issues have seen their careers deflate like a crack theme's weight. Good to see him seek help now before too late.

Isn't a bit early to make a statement like that on a player that is just 20 years old?

As a rookie, Beasley's offensive game is vastly ahead of Prince's, today, despite Prince's numerous years in the league. I'd go as far as to say Beasley, from an offensive skill set perspective, was the best rookie last year.

You seem to be confusing inconsistent minutes from his coach with inconsistent play from Beasley. I believe Beasley was putting up 17 to 20 ppg and around 8ish boards when actually given starters minutes last season.

All that aside, all the talent in the world does not change the fact that Beasley appears to be somewhat of a headcase but nothing serious at this point. What were most people here doing at 20? Most likely s--- just as dumb or dumber. Guy is still a kid and will mature as time goes by.

Yup, if Beasley had gotten to play as much as Rose (37 mpg) or Mayo (38 mpg), or even Eric Gordon (34 mpg) last year, he would've been right up there with them in the ROY race.

Last year:
- Beasley as starter: 16.7 pts, 6.7 reb, 1.3 ast, 0.7 stl, 0.7 blk, 0.6 3pm, 2.0 to, 47.6% FG, 80.7% FT
- Beasley per-36: 20.1 pts, 7.9 reb, 1.5 ast, 0.7 stl, 0.7 blk, 0.6 3pm, 2.2 to, 47.2% FG, 77.2% FT




Left of the soda bottle.

I guess I just got a bad feeling bout how this can turn out on the court... I don't have a problem with players admitting they smoke weed but the whole rehab thing can be pretty disastrous for Beasley if the heads in the Heat office grow tired of the bad rep they're getting from them...

If Beasley produces on the court, the Heat will deal with all the rep problems, no sweat. I mean, as far as "scandals" go, this is minor at best.

Kobe, Ron Artest - now those were real scandals.

My comparison of Beasley to Tayshaun Prince is mainly due to my evaluation that Beasley is not the type of player who can handle alot of pressure. And I'm saying Beasley's personality is more suited towards a Tayshaun Prince type of role player.
In Detroit, Prince was never the 1st or 2nd option. He's always been the 3rd or 4th option. And he's been fantastic in that role.
In Miami, Beasley will become the 2nd option already this season. Do I think he can handle the pressure? No. He doesn't even want that type of pressure. That's just who he is. Miami needs to pull in a stronger 2nd option, like perhaps a Carlos Boozer. Then, Beasley will feel a lot more comfortable in a 3rd option role. He'll do much better under that less-pressure situation. And for his sake, I hope the Heat do acquire a better 2nd option player. Because there's no way Michael Beasley will be a legit 2nd option. Not from what I know about this kid.

Eric Gordon dominated him in that capacity......................

I like Eric Gordon, but Beasley's skill set is vastly superior. I don't recall Gordon ever posting up anyone in college or the NBA.

that the guard vs PF tho.... not really fair to compare the post up moves of the two.

Normally the guard would balance it out with an advantage is passing, but Gordon's not a good passer (neither is Beasley). So the scale in overall offensive skillset tips to Beasley. Since neither are much in the distribution department, all that's really left to consider is scoring and maybe offensive rebounding. Beasley can score from anywhere on the floor, he can take a big man outside or post on a smaller defender. Gordon lacks that versatility.

Gordon has the ability to post up and does occasionally, though thats not his strongest asset. Beasley cannot drive and cannot get to the ft line. Both are majort major deficiencies for a player with an alleged "vastly superior" all around skill set.

Lets break it down further...

Driving/slashing- edge Gordon
posting-edge Beasley
Perimeter shooting- edge Gordon. I dont want to hear that beasley shot 40% from three. He did so on light volume. When he makes over 1.7 a game like Gordon we'll talk........
Getting to the FT Line- edge Gordon, also EG is a superior, elite FT shooter....

I know we are talking Offense only, but Gordon is also a far better defender than Beasley. This may change but the record is clear on edge defending at this point........

Beasley shot 47% from the field and 41% from 3. His low 3ptA doesn't mean he can't shoot them, it means he'd rather get closer for a higher % shot. I'm not sure 1.7 3pm holds up as a benchmark anyways. Larry Bird never made 1.7 3pm, neither did Steve Kerr. This is not to suggest Beasley is some Bird/Kerr-level 3pt shooter, but surely you'd agree that Bird and Kerr were both better 3pt shooters than Gordon despite their lower volumes.

I don't know where you got that Beasley can't drive, but he gets by his man fairly reliably when he wants to. His low FTA are because he played 25 mpg. Their actual FT-shooting rates are pretty similar.
Per 36 minutes:
Beasley 4.3 FTA
Gordon 4.7 FTA


I agree Gordon is the better defender.

I got it from watching the games last season. Beasley is a sloth and lack real quickness to beat his man off the dribble and attack the rim. I have watched many a games where Beasley could not creat a seperation from his defender. Because of this he will throw up a wilder shot farther away from the basket at times.

The 1.7 benchmark is not a benchmark at all. I only suggest that if a player like Beasley is going to shoot more threes expect a drop in efficiency. Further to that point, making only .4 per game is not enough of a track record to have me convinced he can shoot the three ball well consistently.......

http://nationalbasketblog.com/2009/01/08/m...sley-overrated/

A blog written by a Bulls homer that is void of credible analysis. L O L! This is what it has come to CoH!

"I think Michael has the ability to be one of the best three-fours in the game," he said of muscular small forwards, mentioning the role Ron Artest fills with the Houston Rockets. "He will give you tremendous fire power." - Pat Riley

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/pat...ard-233564.html

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''I thought he was the most gifted guy in the draft,'' - McHale

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/pra...ale-192564.html

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Beasley gets to the rim when he wants to. He may not beat his defender by 3 steps like Tony Parker, but the important thing is he gets by them and to the rim. Whether he gets there with an explosive 1st step (like Tony Parker) or through a knowledge of how to manipulate his defender (like Steve Nash) isn't all that important when discussing a player's ability to dribble penetrate.

Beasley does have a Jamison-esque penchant for favoring finesse moves like reverses and half-hooks while Gordon seems to love to crash into defenders ala Maggette, but that's just their different styles. As long as the ball goes in.




Are you convinced that Jose Calderon is a good FT shooter, despite his very low volume of FTA?
Would you say that Kevin Martin is a better FT shooter than Calderon, because Martin's FT% is proven over a very high number of FTA while Calderon's isn't?

I'm not a fan of Beasley, but he's got game and will be a very good NBA player at some point, if he keeps things together. While his rookie season was surely disappointing, he still projects pretty productively just through a likely increase in minutes. I think he may be a full fledged sleeper this year.

I know it’s only his rookie year and I have been wrong about players before (what up Tayshaun!), but I hate to be an ” I told you so”

that's ironic that he mentioned Tayshaun, considering the fact that I compared Michael Beasley to being a Tayshaun Prince type of player.

i'm awesome.

Beasley and Tayshaun have little to nothing in common.

Oh cmon NUPE, they have plenty in common. I mean they are both light skinned, left handed, play in the NBA, and are in the Eastern Conference!

Oh wait, I get it you were talking about basketball skills. Yeah, they have nothing in common.

I'd be curious to see what Mr. "I told ya so" thought after seeing what Beasley put up in starter's minutes in April......a few months after this blog was written.

I still stand my ground in my evaluation that Beasley is more suited to be a Tayshaun Prince type of role player.

Prince is a swiss army knife type offensive player that does not excel at any one thing but does multiple things respectably while being a great defender. Prince can run point forward, is a decent passer and a decent shooter.


Beasley is an average defender, at best, for now, while being an offensive (scoring) dynamo. Beasley has a tremendous mid-range game, can finish at the rim strong and can stroke the three consistently. As Riley said, Beasley adds tremendous firepower to the Heat. Beasley is also a great great rebounder. However, he could never be a point forward and is a below average passer for now. I say for now because we are dealing with a player that has not even started his second season. There is a ton of upside with Beasley.

Beasley is a slightly more mobile and athletic A. Jamison type player rather than the swiss army mold of Prince.

this year will be telling, to see if Beasley can handle the pressure as being the 2nd option. I personally don't think he can handle the pressure. He doesn't have the mentality to carry that type of burden. If the Heat can acquire a solid Power Forward or Center, as their 2nd option, it will help Beasley feel a lot more at home as the 3rd option.

All these issues happening with Beasley since his arrival in the NBA are turning him into a rebellious young man. He's already heading down the Dennis Rodman path.

So you see Beasley dying his hair 10 different colors at once, becoming gay, marrying Carmen Electra, prancing around in women's dresses and winning a few rings as a key contributor...

Hmmmmmm.....

Do you know him? If not I'm not sure what he did/didn't do this year to prove that he doesn't have the mentality to even play second fiddle to one of the league's top players. He did a pretty good job of hoisting K-State squarely on his shoulders for an entire season as a Freshman. I'd say unless you know something none of the rest of us do, that season of putting up video game numbers in a tough conference while being double teamed says a lot more than anything else. He put up some numbers that rank near the all-time great freshman seasons in both points and rebounds. How would he feel at home as the third option? When in his career has he EVER been a third option coming into last year?

you can't compare college to the pros.

look at Christian Laettner... college player of the year 2 years in a row, member of the original Dream Team, even before his rookie season.

I'm not really comparing college to the pros I'm saying that in our only proof to this point as to whether Beasley can handle a main role on a team is college. In that role he had one of the all-time great college seasons. You bring up Laettner, great college player, in his four years he NEVER had a season that even remotely approached Beasley's season as "the man." (Admittedly the Duke system is far different than K-State) So there exists some evidence he can and has handled the role on the big stage.

Where's the evidence that he can't? What do you see in him that makes you think he can't handle it? I'm still undecided as to what his future is in the league, but just can't understand where you're getting that he doesn't have what it takes to even be second fiddle to a premier scorer and you're stating it like it's some kind of fact.

you know this kid's notorious for being a pot-head.
even leading into his rookie year, there was all kinds of talk about his off-court antics.
his last Twitter entry was about how frustrated he was feeling like the world is against him.
and how can you overlook the fact this kid is in drug rehab.
This to me is all clear evidence that he's got a character flaw that will keep him from becoming a great star player.
he can't handle this type of pressure. he doesn't even want this type of pressure. And the fact that he's a Small Forward doesn't help any either. What the Heat need is a true inside scoring presence. Beasley mainly plays on the wing. Unfortunately, he's their best player who plays closest to the basket, so they're gonna request him to try to get closer to the basket to hit high percentage shots. But he won't be able to do that effectively in the NBA against much bigger frontcourt defenders. That's a huge burden for him to carry. And he's not good with pressure.

This kid has talent, but he doesn't have the mental toughness. he has no discipline. he's a rebel. he's gonna do whatever he wants to do.

Who cares if he a pot head? Rodman did every freaking drug known to man. I'm willing to assume about 50% of the league are pot heads.

Even James has come out and said he smoked up alot, of course he not going to say he currently doint it, but would it really shock you if anyone was caught with name your drug?

No, i wouldn't be surprised if half the NBA players smoke pot. But they're smart enough to not get caught.
But the fact that Beasley has got caught on numerous occasions, and now has now been put into rehab... the world knows now. And Beasley's reputation will forever be linked to his drug problems. And this kid is gonna get sick of the media always talking about his drug issues. So, i definitely think he's headed down a road of rebellion against the media and the public. It's shapeing out that way, this early in his career. He's now got a huge chip on his shoulder, against the world. Take that and add it to the stress of having to carry the burden of stepping up to be the 2nd option on the Miami Heat this season. That's a lot of damn pressure. On top of that, I hear him and Wade don't even get along that well.

I am sure Thats Ridiculous will eat this up!!!!!!

Beasley will shut people up the way Durant did last season.

I feel so ashamed for talking so much trash about Beasley, and yet here I am with him on my fantasy team. lol.
well, let me explain that it was a late round pick, and even I can admit that there is a lot of potential for Beasley to do well this year. So, in that respect, I felt he was a solid pickup at that moment in the draft.
Let it also be known i tried trading him today for J-Rich, and for Ben Gordon. both offers got rejected, unfortunately.
I might have to hold onto him(for now). But he better blow up, like a lot of you tend to think he will!

Beasley is off to a rough start in pre-season. I will stand by my summer long proclamation that he is going to be a bust in the nba and struggle due to lack of a true position and elite athletic ability.

What kinds of upside, base, and downside numbers can we expect from Beasley? Dr. A seems to think that Beasley will be a stud next season with potential to score 20+ppg. That would mean he logically would need to make some progression this season. Could he produce at 17/7/2/1/1 this season?

I think Beasley takes the next step. His production per mins was very good especially for how young he was. If he can get 34+ mins a game this year I would nearly expect at least 17/7/2/1/1. He has a great 3pt % as well as FG% so I don't see why he wouldn't see a big spike in 3's and points.