NBA Trade Rumors: The Los Angeles Lakers Should Avoid Michael Beasley

The Lakers are reportedly interested in Michael Beasley. but they should stay away from the talented, difficult forward.

Beasley is a great player. He could provide an excellent upgrade at the hybrid scoring forward spot and give the Lakers some of the scoring punch they need. He would also inject desperately-needed young talent into the Lakers roster.  

Kobe Bryant could mentor him and it is possible that he could develop into the All-NBA star pro scouts envisioned when he was drafted in 2008.

But that is a lot of "ifs."  And there are several critical reasons the Lakers should stay away from Beasley.

Most important, what will it take to acquire him?  The rumor suggests the Lakers would send a low draft pick plus cash to acquire him but that is simply not realistic.  Beasley is talented, young and productive: the T-Wolves will demand a top talent in return.

The Lakers only have two real tradeable assets: forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum.  Bynum would only be traded in a deal for Orlando center Dwight Howard.  So, realistically, any Lakers deal for Michael Beasley would have to involve Gasol, a mature NBA star who has helped the Lakers win two NBA titles.  

Gasol may be aging but he remains effective and his presence alongside Kobe Bryant keeps the Lakers respectable.  He is also a good compliment to Andrew Bynum on both ends of the floor.  Together they make the Lakers' front-line one of the NBA's best.

Beasley is very talented but his physical size and offensive skill set would not effectively replace Gasol. Both players are considered power forwards but Beasley is a 6' 8" tweener who prefers to use his excellent jump shot while Gasol is 7'0" and thrives in the post area.  

Beasley is also inefficient because of his limited basketball IQ, over-reliance on his jump shot and disdain for passing.  Gasol on the other hand, is one of the league's smartest players, a gifted passer and the most efficient big man in the game.

So although on paper the Lakers would be replacing a talented power forward with another (who is much younger), the real swap would not replicate Gasol's production or locker-room contributions.  The Lakers would be left with Bryant, Bynum and Beasley, which might not even be enough to make the playoffs.

Of course, everything is relative. If the Lakers can send Gasol to Minnesota in a three-team trade (perhaps one also involving Derrick Williams) that nets Beasley plus other young talent, then it might be worth considering.

But if its just Michael Beasley we are talking about, then the Lakers should stay away!