Lakers Trade Rumors: LA Must Not Sacrifice Valuable Assets for Michael Beasley

The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t giving up on the 2012 season—they still believe they can win a championship.

That’s great, and that competitive fire is what the sport is all about, but they cannot sacrifice the potential future of the franchise to land a mediocre player like Michael Beasley.

According to Sam Amico at FOXSportsOhio.com, the Minnesota Timberwolves are heavily shopping the young but troubled swingman to the Lakers, Nets, Rockets and Celtics.

LA cannot get into a bidding war with any of these teams and sacrifice their valuable pieces that they can rebuild with after Kobe Bryant hangs up his sneaks.

ESPN’s Chris Broussard has reported that the Lakers have been interested in acquiring Beasley since December, and if commissioner David Stern had not vetoed their Chris Paul deal, they would have already struck out and brought in the No. 2 overall 2008 draft pick.

He’s certainly an upgrade over Metta World Peace, who is atrocious this season, and Matt Barnes, but his questionable past and proven inability to play in a “happening” city is troubling.

Beasley is also clearly not going to become a star in his own right and is best as a complimentary swingman off the bench.

Fortunately, LA has already turned down Minny’s offer of one of their two 2012 first-round picks in exchange for the 23-year-old SF.

However, Broussard found that they did not turn it down because they were unwilling to give up the pick, but rather to save money.

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Since there is a dollar-for-dollar penalty for tax-paying teams, taking on Beasley's $6.2 million deal would add another $6.2 million to their tax bill and cost the Lakers a pro-rated shortened-season total of $7.331 million.

The Lakers' decision falls in line with their decision to trade Lamar Odom to the Dallas Mavericks for an $8.9 million trade exception in December.

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LA needs to realize that Beasley isn’t going to push them over the edge, and panicking and shipping one of their draft picks in exchange for him is just stupid.

The 2012 draft class is so stacked with talent that Los Angeles is almost certain to hit on a prospect better than Beasley if they get two chances.

It’s best for them to stay patient and hope to find a star in June, rather than get a mediocre player during the March deadline.