Michael Beasley, veteran NBA forward and former Chinese Basketball Association Most Valuable Player, is reportedly headed back to China to represent the Guangdong Southern Tigers, as first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. This will be Beasley’s third stint in China.
The team also officially announced the signing.
Ex-Lakers forward Michael Beasley is finalizing a deal with …. Guangdong of the Chinese Basketball Association, sources tell ESPN. Short run of two months, significant cash.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 19, 2019
As reported, Beasley’s short stint back in the NBA has come to an end, spending most of this season with the Los Angeles Lakers, whom he signed with on a one-year deal this past offseason. Beasley and center JaVale McGee were recently in the news for a reported postgame altercation with Lakers Head Coach Luke Walton, and subsequently saw himself as well as teammate Ivica Zubac traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal for Mike Muscala. Beasley was waived by the Clippers shortly after the trade was finalized.
Beasley’s signing with the Guangdong raises roster questions, however, as CBA teams are only permitted two non-Asian players unless the team finished in the bottom five teams the previous season, which Guangdong did not. Guangdong’s roster currently includes former Memphis Grizzlies guard (and the subject of a highly publicized failed trade from earlier this season) MarShon Brooks as well as former NBA journeyman Sonny Weems.
An odd situation in Guangdong. As @Carchia reported, they also added MarShon Brooks to the roster which obviously means they have now 3 Americans with Sonny Weems. He’s not been injured so there are only two options here: either release him or keep him out of the roster.
— Dmitry Planidin (@DmitryPlanidin) February 19, 2019
In his last stint playing in China, Beasley attained great success, being named the 2016 CBA International MVP while representing Shandong Golden Stars, averaging 31.9 points per game over the course of 40 appearances. Beasley had only featured in 26 games for the Lakers this season, averaging 7.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per game.
