Free-agent forward Michael Beasley has agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Beasley’s deal will reportedly be worth the veteran minimum.
Free agent Michael Beasley has agreed to a one-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 11, 2019
Beasley played for the Los Angeles Lakers the majority of last season but was traded to the Clippers on Feb. 7. Beasley didn’t play a single game for the Clippers however, as he was waived just two days after the trade was completed.
The timing of Michael Beasley signing with Detroit is also notable considering the NBA just levied down a 5-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Additionally, the Athletic’s James Edwards III reports that Beasley had a fully guaranteed $2.6 million offer from a Chinese team, but turned it down to take less money and remain in the NBA.
Sources tell @ShamsCharania and myself that Michael Beasley passed on a guaranteed $2.6M deal in China in order to compete in camp on a deal with the playoff-contending Pistons. @ShamsCharania reported Thursday that the NBA suspended Beasley five games.
— James Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) August 11, 2019
Once an incredibly exciting NBA prospect, Beasley’s career has never reached the high expectations that were laid out for him. Drafted second overall by the Miami Heat in 2008, Beasley was one of the most dominant college players of his time but that didn’t necessarily translate over to the NBA.
A bevy of off-court troubles and inconsistency with his play has relegated him to a bench role for most of his career. There’s also still a chance the Pistons won’t be able to retain him going into next season, as their roster now has 16 players after signing Beasley.
The Pistons could be an interesting team to watch in the East next season. Their frontcourt of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond remains one of the better combinations in the league, and their bench also gained some help in the additions of Markieff Morris and Derrick Rose. It’ll be interesting to see if Beasley does ultimately make the final roster, but regardless, the Pistons have turned themselves into a potential playoff contender for next season.
