Lakers Trade Rumors: Michael Beasley Is Exact Opposite of What L.A. Needs

The Los Angeles Lakers are incredibly desperate; courting Michael Beasley is the only example you need.

Despite their desperate need to bring in a better point guard, the Lakers front office is intrigued with the former No. 2 overall pick according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard:

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The Lakers' front office knows Kobe Bryant is looking for it to improve the roster, and GM Mitch Kupchak has been working the phones. He's spoken to Minnesota about Michael Beasley, and sources say the Lakers are intrigued by the Timberwolves' small forward. The Lakers were actually in discussions with Minnesota about a potential trade for Beasley before the season started. If they would have been able to pull off the deal for Chris Paul, there is a good chance that a trade for Beasley would have followed. 

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Beasley has been living off his one terrific season of college, which is pretty incredible considering it was five years ago.

The Miami Heat gave up on Beasley after only two years for a reason: His attitude and work ethic are highly questionable and he has yet to prove he can be an efficient scorer. Sure, he may have averaged 19.2 PPG last season, but that was on 17 shots a game. This year it has taken him 12 shots a game to average 12.6. This is a career pattern and something that good teams can’t live with.

Especially a veteran team with little patience like the Lakers.

He has the athletic ability to be a contributor, but for nothing more than 15 to 20 minutes a night. His scorer's mentality has to take a complete 180 before he could be an asset for the Lakers. No way he can get thrown into the mix and pull it off this year.

Kobe Bryant doesn’t need another headache to deal with right now. Aside from the fact he secretly hates his coach (ever watch them interact?), has to deal with Metta World Peace on a regular basis and is trying to resurrect his marriage...I’m pretty sure the plate is already full.

Beasley is the sort of quick fix that may make the team marginally better this year, but nothing more.

The Lakers are in an odd place right now. They have the highest payroll in the league and are in danger of hitting the dreaded luxury tax, yet they don‘t want to anger the aging Kobe. According to Broussard, the Lakers are holding one ultra-important piece of the puzzle to make the trade:

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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. Minnesota is looking to move Beasley, who they feel has matured very little (if at all) since he's been there, according to sources. The Lakers believe they can handle a player like Beasley because of their winning culture and the leadership of Bryant.

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The Lakers don’t have time to deal with a headache like Beasley. They are in the middle of an absolute dog fight in the Western Conference and can’t afford to spend an extended amount of time ensuring a fourth-year pro acts like a professional.

Pau Gasol’s head is literally on a chopping block right now and there isn’t any team that can provide a fair deal. As Dwight Howard continues to go in the anti-Shaq direction, the odds of the new-age Superman landing in purple and gold are looking less likely than a new Ghostbusters flick.

The Lakers’ 2011-2012 season submarined before it started because of the nixed Chris Paul trade and the soul-sucking lockout that zapped players union president Derek Fisher to pieces.

It’s time to chalk up the season as a loss and start planning on how to fix everything this summer. The gaping holes are too large to put a Band-Aid over and bringing in a guy like Beasley does nothing to close the gap.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Kobe, but at this point there is nothing you can do about it. At least the insane conspiracy that David Stern and the league do their best to help the Lakers can be put to bed.