NBA Trade Rumors: Lakers Must Steer Clear of Michael Beasley

The L.A. Lakers continue to window shop like kids with far less money in their pockets than they think. The latest buzz has them targeting Michael Beasley, who is far more trouble than he is worth. 

ESPN's Chris Broussard reports Lakers officials are looking towards Minnesota in a deal that would land them forward Michael Beasley. 

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...sources say the Lakers are intrigued by (Michael Beasley). The Lakers were actually in discussions with Minnesota about a potential trade for Beasley before the season started...

It's not clear what the Lakers would give Minnesota for Beasley (if indeed the talks get that far), but the Lakers could absorb Beasley into their $8.9 million trade exception while giving up a draft pick or cash. I'm told the teams have not spoken about Pau Gasol since the preseason. 

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The Lakers are banging through the bargain bin and could actually find a solution to one of their many holes. This is a team that needs bolstering at the small-forward position—something Beasley would remedy—and at point guard, a position they are trying to use Pau Gasol to solve via trade. 

The hope here is that the Lakers are getting off cheap by acquiring Beasley with a trade exception, but that may be getting well ahead of where talks are currently. 

If Gasol is in the middle of any deal, it would be disastrous to the current squad. There is no way that the Lakers should give up one of their best players for what could be a good one in Beasley, even if they get spare parts in addition. 

The fact is the Lakers hardly need a player like Beasley, one the Timberwolves are trying to unload due to his clashes with the system the Timberwolves run. 

There also continues to be questions of his maturity, and that is the big reason the Lakers need to look elsewhere for their solutions. 

This is not the Phil Jackson Lakers, where all personality types and egos were welcome. Mike Brown has clashed with Metta World Peace, one player that is making life rough for the Lakers at the small-forward position. 

Beasley may be a star player in hiding as he waits to play more minutes, but he is not the answer to the Lakers' woes. There is far too much risk involved for a player that can look lost on the defensive side of the ball at times. 

The Lakers have holes, but they don't need more problems. 

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