Michael Beasley lucked out during his time with the Heat

By Jonathan Sherman

Michael Beasley’s emotional interview on “The Pivot” podcast with former NFL stars Channing Crowder, Ryan Clark, and Fred Taylor gained a lot of publicity when he talked about his journey in the NBA and his current mental state. I wish Beasley the best, but this article addresses other comments he made during the interview.

Beasley states that he averaged 13.9 points in his rookie year, just like Jayson Tatum, but claims Tatum was left to develop, which has turned him into one of the best players in the league. However, Beasley is out of the league and cites the lack of opportunity to develop as the reason behind his difficult tenure in the NBA. Although we can point to some off-court issues, this article focuses on the draft process and the importance of being drafted to the right situation.

Beasley, who averaged 14.8 points and 6.2 rebounds, a solid return for a second-year player, was traded to the Timberwolves to make room for the Heat’s “Big Three.” Unfortunately for Beasley, any developmental plan they had was thrown out the window when the opportunity to pair Dwayne Wade with Chris Bosh and LeBron James. Beasley played both forward positions, the two positions James and Bosh would play, respectively.

As a means of comparison, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey was drafted 21st overall but found himself playing vital minutes amidst the Ben Simmons saga. He is now an essential piece for a championship contender.

High draft picks usually get drafted to lottery teams and get time to “figure it out” during their first couple of years. Jalen Green struggled in his first few months in Houston before improving his efficiency and finishing fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. We can point to other reasons why Beasley was not as successful in the league as he was, but he has a reason to complain about the hand he was dealt in Miami.