Michael Beasley Rumors: Latest Buzz, Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent Forward

Updates from Wednesday, July 30

Michael Beasley conducted a private workout with one Western Conference team according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles: 

McMenamin provides more details on the workout:

Original Text

Michael Beasley remains a free agent, but that might not be the case for much longer.

According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, the 25-year-old is garnering some interest from a few potential suitors:      

Kennedy thinks that Beasley, who's working out in Los Angeles with Kevin Durant, would be a nice addition on the Lakers:

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Miami Heat have considered bringing Beasley back but that's as far as it's gotten.

"[Other] teams have called expressing interest," said Beasley's agent, Jared Karnes. "There has been quite a bit of activity the past four days. Teams are encouraged by his career-best field-goal percentage (49.9)...and his attitude when asked to play a reduced role."

The former No. 2 overall pick is coming off one of the better seasons in his career.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Although his scoring and rebounding averages were the lowest of his career, he shot 49.9 percent from the field, which was a career best. Per 36 minutes, Beasley was averaging 18.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, both of which were improvements on what he'd done over the previous two years. His 16.8 PER was also the highest since his rookie season.

Still, NBA fans have come to lower their expectations with Beasley. And while he'll likely never live up to the hype that surrounded him at the 2008 draft, that doesn't mean he can't be a role player on a quality team.

Pro Basketball Talk's Brett Pollakoff argued that the biggest key for Beasley is being surrounded by the right players:

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But again, on a minimum salary deal, there are teams that will take a long hard look at Beasley next season. They’ll need to have a strong system in place with veteran players that have control of the locker room in order for him to have a chance to succeed, but in the right situation, a team will convince itself that they can be the ones to unlock all that potential, and get him to focus for an entire NBA season.

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Most of the top prizes have already been claimed from this year's free-agent market. But Beasley is one of many veteran role players still looking for a home.

He's still young and having proven himself willing to play fewer minutes, he's certainly worth a look from plenty of teams throughout the NBA.

Note: All stats are courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.