JULY 9: The Nets have officially signed Beasley, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 8: The Nets and free agent forward Michael Beasley are moving toward a contract agreement, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The second overall pick in the 2008 draft, Beasley hasn’t played in the NBA this season, having last suited up for the Lakers during the 2018/19 campaign. He averaged 7.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 26 games (10.7 MPG) for the Lakers before being traded to the Clippers at the ’19 deadline. The Clips subsequently waived him.
Beasley, who averaged 19.2 PPG for the Timberwolves back in 2010/11, has always been an effective scorer, but isn’t a particularly strong play-maker or defender. Still, the 31-year-old’s ability to put the ball in the basket could benefit the depleted Nets.
As a result of injuries, opt-outs, and positive coronavirus tests, Brooklyn will be missing Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Taurean Prince, Wilson Chandler, and Nicolas Claxton when play resumes this summer.
Dinwiddie, Jordan, Prince, and Chandler are eligible to be replaced by substitute players, and Brooklyn has already reached agreements with Justin Anderson and Jamal Crawford. Assuming they strike a deal with Beasley too, the Nets would still be able to sign one more substitute player — they’re said to be eyeing a frontcourt piece, perhaps Amir Johnson or Lance Thomas.
Beasley – who has a strong relationship with Durant, according to Charania (Twitter link) – would sign a minimum-salary, rest-of-season contract with Brooklyn if the two sides finalize an agreement. It wouldn’t count against the club’s cap and the Nets wouldn’t have any form of Bird rights on Beasley at season’s end.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out (via Twitter), Beasley was hit with a five-game suspension in August 2019 for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy. He has yet to serve that ban and would have to do so if he signs with Brooklyn. Still, the club would have him available for its final three seeding games, plus up to two play-in tournament contests and the entire postseason, assuming the Nets make it.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They only need a Center! Is Andris Biedrins available?
The Nets are bringing back the Over-the-Hill-Gang like the NFL team in Washington had so much success with in the early 70’s.
Al Jefferson may be free?
If they want to go with another former #2 overall pick for a big, they could go with the one from the following year of whom KD speaks of very highly. Durant teamed up with Haseem Thabeet in OKC. I read that Thabeet’s in great shape and was supposed to compete in TBT, but his team was disqualified after one of his teammates tested positive for COVID. He tested negative. He’s got something you can’t teach – 7’3″.
They ll prob go with Amir Johnson
They gotta use the last spot on a big
There nobody on this team rn capable of playing the 5 outside of Allen
Man with the team they are putting together, the Nets are going to do some serious damage in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
Man, that’s historical! I mean hysterical!
I think the Nets will play hard and are fairly certain to hold off the Wizards who are in worse shape without Beal, Bertans, and Wall. Holding off Orlando will be difficult, but not impossible. Playoffs will probably be ugly for the Nets, but they stand a better chance of picking up a victory or two against Toronto or Boston than against Milwaukee.
How are the Wizards in worse shape? They were already without Wall the whole season, so basically they are losing Beal and Bertans (their two leading scorers). Brooklyn is in the same situation missing KD, just like Wall, for the entire season. They also lost their two leading scorers, Kyrie and Dinwiddie. So far it’s equal. But on top of all that the Nets are also without Prince, DeAndre, Chandler, and Claxton. They’re in far worse shape than the Wizards.
Ok 1. The Wizards are a far worse team to begin with in terms of personal than the Nets and 2. Neither team would be able to get out of the first round anyway why does it matter?
1. Personnel, don’t take this personal.
2. Beauty of sports is underdogs finding ways to win.
Beasley plays well there def should be a spot for him on nets next year
Anyone knows how the minimum number of 13 players per team work with players who opted out without being replaced?
My understanding is injured players are part of the 17-man roster. I know there’s a limit of 13 active players per game in the playoffs, but I’m not sure if that applies for the seeding and play-in games that are considered part of the regular season. KD, Kyrie and Claxton are considered part of the roster. I figure the substitutes will all be active for the playoffs and Jeremiah Martin will probably be inactive during the playoffs unless someone else is hurt. Martin will probably be active while Beasley is serving his suspension because I don’t think the active player limit applies during seeding games.
I just hope Crawford has a 50 point game on his 4th team ?
Big 3 not call back?
Beasley is a good talent. He’s got issues, bipolar I believe. He dominated college ball. He still a solid scorer off bench. Nets have lost players. Even with a full squad. Not getting out 1st rd. They are 6 gms up on Wizards. So how is Wash going to catch them. Bets would have to lose all their gms. They win 2 and it’s over. I just hope NBA happens. This can get done. If they are all on same page.
Nets making smart decisions with FA player signings I believe.
Justin Anderson is probably the best defender that isn’t in the NBA. He’s an absolute pest and sticks like glue to players.
Jamal Crawford is a walking bucket. Great iso bench scorer even at 40. He put up a 50 game for the suns.
Micheal Beasley i think is a poor mans Carmelo Anthony. He gives you buckets and probably would be a starter and help LeVert. Will give the Nets an easy 16 points 4 rebounds 2 assists
Carmelo Anthony is a poor mans Carmelo Anthony.
None of these substitute players the Nets are signing are going to start. Kurucs should be the starting PF while Beasley and Crawford will both get limited playing time in the second unit for a team that will struggle to get a single win.
And abracatazza, the return of Tazza
Someone in the bubble next week: “Every time I walk past that room it smells like weed… who’s room is that?”
This guys still around???