Michael Beasley: Does Pot Citiation Spell the End of Beasley's NBA Career?

Michael Beasley has found himself crossing the law once again today after being cited for marijuana possession and speeding last week, according to a report from KARE-TV in Minnesota. 

Beasley, a 22-year-old forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was pulled over around 3 A.M. on June 26 in Minnetonka, Minnesota for going 85 miles per hour in a 65-mile-per-hour zone. When the police pulled him over, they found 16.2 grams of marijuana in the car and issued him a citation for speeding and for possession of marijuana. 

Both of the offenses are misdemeanors and should result in fines, but if you're Beasley, this is the last thing you wanted to have happen to you. He's been in trouble with the league before, and with a lockout getting underway, he's not going to make himself any friends in the players' camp by pulling stunts like this. 

But is this enough to bring an end to his NBA career, or will he have a future in Minnesota or somewhere else?

Remember, this isn't Beasley's first brush with pot since joining the league; in 2008, he was in a hotel room with Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers when a fire alarm went off. Firemen entered the room and smelled a strong aroma of pot. Beasley snuck out before police arrived and was later forced to admit as much by Heat president Pat Riley.

He eventually checked into rehab in 2009 for his drug use (only after a picture of him with what appeared to be marijuana in the background was released), but clearly, the problem wasn't solved there.

During his time in Miami, he had frequent clashes with team policy, breaking rules and violating the team's conduct policy regularly. His inability to stay out of trouble (along with his inability to play decent basketball) led to his eventual trade to Minnesota, where he has continued to fail to live up to his considerable potential. 

If you're Michael Beasley, given the way you played last season, this is not the kind of thing you wanted this offseason. The Timberwolves were likely already displeased with you, and this can't help matters.

Add the arrival of Derrick Williams, whose style of play is like his, only better, and Beasley is likely cooked in Minnesota at this point.

But, that doesn't mean no one will give him a shot.

Once the lockout ends and player movement can begin again, someone will take a chance on the still supremely talented 22-year-old. He has the skills to be a star in the NBA, and if he comes with a reduced price tag, someone will take a chance on him.

That being said, this is bad news for Beasley. He's going to have to prove that this was a one-time incident, and his previous track record is going to make that incredibly tough. Sure, the fine can be paid easily, but good luck erasing the pot issues from a general manager's mind when he's considering signing you.

In the end, Beasley's not done in the NBA; he's too young and too talented for that at this point in his career. But he's quickly running out of chances, and if he's not careful, he's going to run out of second, third and fourth chances to make his mark on the league.

He needs to turn himself around in a hurry if he hopes to be the player so many were so sure he would be when he was drafted out of Kansas State.