This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for and pining after.
Fiiiiiiine. No it isn’t. Not unless you’re Michael Beasley and/or a hugely irrational Michael Beasley fan.
According to the all-knowing and omnipresent Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, The Beas is headed to the Memphis Grizzlies:
Free agent forward Michael Beasley has reached agreement on a deal with Memphis, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 23, 2014
Here’s some additional details from Woj:
Free-agent forward Michael Beasley has agreed to join the Memphis Grizzlies in training camp on a non-guaranteed contract, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
Beasley spent several days working out for the Grizzlies this week and chose that offer because of an opportunity to make the roster as a backup power forward.
In recent weeks, Beasley worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers—twice—and the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers seemed like a natural fit because of their nonexistent depth at small forward. The Spurs always seemed like a long shot because coach Gregg Popovich probably won’t light up with Beasley in between quarters.
More seriously, the Spurs aren’t in the business of taking these kinds of chances. Things didn’t end well with the turbulent Stephen Jackson. They have no problem whipping out of shape players into, well, shape (see: Boris Diaw), but those who just don’t respond well to unquestioned authority would fare better wagering their life’s earnings on the Philadelphia 76ers’ championship odds next season.
The Grizzlies make sense for Beasley, and not just because they employed a slightly less infamous version of him in O.J. Mayo:
https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/514564065155620864
Turns out they might also have a thing for lefties, too:
Grizz continue to be all-in on lefties.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) September 23, 2014
At its heart, this move is low-risk, high-reward. The Grizzlies could always use some offense, and the volume-chucking Beasley provides just this. His defensive chops are questionable, in that he doesn’t really play it because he’s seemingly disinterested or wondering whether he should get “Memphis Greaslies” tattooed across his back. But if there’s a team that can cover up for his individual shortcomings it’s the Greaslies Grizzlies.
Memphis plays great team defense, making Beasley a solid fit even if he doesn’t play it. It would have been equally intriguing to see him play on the Indiana Pacers or Chicago Bulls or any other team equipped to overshadow his defensive lethargy with elite protection everywhere else.
Alas, he’s with the Grizzlies. Maybe. He has to earn his keep on a non-guaranteed deal. There’s definitely room for him to stick since the Grizz let Ed Davis leave in free agency. He’s not your typical power forward in Grizzlies-speak, but in the age of floor-spacing 4s, he’ll fit in just fine.
A few months from now, if all goes well and doesn’t go up in, ahem, smoke, Beasley could be Zach Randolph’s primary backup. How ya like them apples?
https://twitter.com/danfavale/status/514571830158692352
Fare thee well, Beas, you former No. 2 overall pick turned disappointment turned polarizing rules-breaker turned glimmer of hope turned disappointment again turned Memphis Greasley.
Fare thee well.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
