According to The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania, former second overall pick Michael Beasley will play with the Portland Trail Blazers during the Las Vegas Summer League in August.
The 32-year-old Beasley is an 11-year veteran who has spent time with the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers over the court of his career.
Widely known as one of the most talented players to have entered the NBA due to his scoring ability, Beasley lacked the consistency that NBA teams coveted from such highly drafted and highly-touted star. Undisciplined defensively, and with a string of marijuana-related off-court incidents surfacing throughout his career, Beasley’s last season playing in the NBA was during the 2018-19 campaign.
Briefly signed by the Brooklyn Nets as a replacement player for Spencer Dinwiddie during the 2020-21 season, Beasley’s contract was voided after he tested positive for COVID-19.
With a number of Portland’s frontcourt players (including power forwards Zach Collins and Carmelo Anthony), set to hit free agency in the offseason, taking a look at Beasley—particularly in a Summer League setting—is an easy way to assess hit potential fit. Particularly in a league with rules favoring offensive players and a style of play that emphasizes spacing and positional versatility.
Because the competition won’t be as stiff as that he would face in the regular season, Beasley could possibly shine in Summer League.
Only time will tell, but the NBA may soon have one of it’s most notorious ballers back in the fray.
