The definitive Michael Beasley article
by vanillablue on May 22, 2008 2:01 PM CDT
30 comments
By Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated, from earlier this year.
Money quotes--the good:
"He's really a point forward, not much different—other than in body length—from Kevin Garnett. They can both guard smaller guys and big guys, step away from the basket and pass and dribble."--DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright
And the (potential) bad:
High school odysseys don't preclude success in the pros—Phoenix Suns All-Star Amaré Stoudemire, for example, attended six high schools in three years—but the lack of stability is a potential red flag for any team that's considering drafting Beasley.
The character issue--real or imagined--may be what tips the scales in favor of Rose.
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Beasley is the right way to go
We need to draft Beasely because he is a superstar now. Rose may have the bigger upside but I don’t think we can wait 3 or 4 years for him to hone his game. We have the pieces now to be a good team and adding the number #1 draft pick will make us a great one if we draft the right player. The player we need the most right now is a scorer and Beasley is that player.
by KantutKid on May 22, 2008 2:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
The Bulls are the youngest team in the NBA...
....So why can’t they wait 3 or 4 years? It’s not like they’re the Spurs or the Suns, seeing their window closing with a gaggle of 30-somethings.
Winning the #1 pick in the Lottery is exactly the excuse that Paxson needed to build and develop for a few more years. The fans are re-energized, and will accept the necessity of a few years of growth out of whomever they pick.
by BullsFanInSeattle on May 22, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Derrick Rose was MVP of Memphis' NCAA Tourney Quarter
Had Chalmers’ 3 point rimmed out, Rose would’ve been Tourney MVP. You can’t say Beasley is more ready than Rose, at least with a straight face.
by YaoPau on May 22, 2008 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can...
Um, it may sound bold, but Michael Beasley in his freshman year was possibly as good as any college player in the past 20 years. I’m not saying we should necessarily take him #1, but the dude is really good right now.
by rb22 on May 22, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still don't see your point
Kevin Durant had a Beasley-esque freshman year, yet he was still shooting 40% from the field through the all-star break this season. Carmelo led his team to a championship his freshman year, then shot 42% from the field as a rookie.
I’m not saying Rose will step in and immediately be Chris Paul either, but bottom line is both players will take a few years to perfect their game, and the argument “Beasley is a superstar now” seems like a bit optimistic considering there’s never been a freshman who jumped and became a superstar as a rookie.
by YaoPau on May 22, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
You said..
“You can’t say Beasley is more ready than Rose, at least with a straight face.” ... I’m just saying that you can. Beasley was the best college player in the nation this past year, not Rose.
I also never said “Beasley is a superstar now.” I said he’s really good right now. Rose is really good right now too.
And Durant and Carmelo were both good as rookies. Not superstars but good. Their shooting percentages weren’t great, because they were the best players on their teams as rookies, so they took alot of low percentage shots.
I’m not saying either is the better pick. I was just saying that there is a case for Beasley being the better player right now. You made it seem as though saying that would be crazy.
by rb22 on May 22, 2008 8:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oops, I think we're in agreement, actually
I initially responded to Kantutkid’s quote that “We need to draft Beasley because he is a superstar now. Rose may have the bigger upside but I don’t think we can wait 3 or 4 years for him to hone his game. ” and I figured you were him when I replied to you. Oops.
I completely agree that it’s possible Beasley is the better player. They’re awfully close, and such different players. My issue was his saying Beasley is a superstar now while Rose is nowhere near ready, which to me is baseless.
by YaoPau on May 23, 2008 12:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Had Rose hit his free throw, Mario's 3 pointer wouldn't have mattered
Have you watched Beasley? They’re both ready. Rose had the advantage of having more talent around him, while Beasley had to be “the guy” for K-State. There are plenty of positives for both.
My Bulls may suck, but my Jayhawks are National Champs!
by wjb1492 on May 23, 2008 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No, this is the definitive Beasley article
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/11/AR2007031101466.html
I especially like the part where the coach at Oak Hill gives him one more chance or he will get kicked out of school, and than the next day he signs his name on the principal’s car.
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
more money quotes -
At a practice here in Fitchburg last month, Barton gathered his players to give them a scouting report on an upcoming opponent. In less than 24 hours, the team played one of its most important games of the season. Barton stood still, with a basketball under his right arm, and talked quietly. “Pay attention, ‘cause this is important,” Barton said. His players leaned in to listen. Then Beasley started shouting.
“Hey coach, pass the ball!” Beasley yelled. “Come on, coach. You’re being a ball hog, yo. Pass it. I’m open.”
Teammates laughed, and Barton shook his head. Over the last six months, Barton had decided mainly to ignore Beasley’s childishness. He finished his scouting report and divided his players into two teams for a shirts-against-skins scrimmage. As Beasley pulled off his cotton T-shirt to play for the skins, he danced across the court.
“I’m naked! I’m naked!” Beasley yelled. “Look, coach. I’m naked!”
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was looking for that story
Can you imagine Beasley playing for Skiles? Skiles would probably have punched him halfway through the first practice.
vanillablue.wordpress.com
by vanillablue on May 22, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
I’m pretty sure that would have been the first incident of a coach choking a player. I don’t think Beasley is a bad guy, but I don’t see Paxson and Reinsdorf hitching their wagon, careers or franchise to a guy who is so immature. Maybe he will grow up, but I don’t think the Bulls will be willing to take that chance.
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beasley is not immature
I don’t understand the whole character issue debate. I looked around on the internet for where these issues stem from, and it’s mostly because Beasley played a few elaborate practical jokes in high school. If that’s all everyone is worried about then I think that we are being way too hard on this kid.
And you know it for a fact that everybody's eating out of your hands
by chibullsareback on May 22, 2008 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
also
the things that you guys are posting happen to be from high school, not “last month” as you tried to indicate. Beasley was on his best behavior at Kansas State this past season.
And you know it for a fact that everybody's eating out of your hands
by chibullsareback on May 22, 2008 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
he was on his best behavior,
as far as you know, for his one season. gimme a break. Did you know that Bayless kicked the crap out of one of his teammates hours before a tournament game? You didn’t did you – that is because they don’t report this stuff about college athletes. You think just because it doesn’t make headlines, its not a problem. Sorry, I’ll trust the news stories, you trust your heart.
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you're probably right
But I think Pax’s default approach is always to take the ‘high-character’ guy, whether that reputation is real or perceived.
vanillablue.wordpress.com
by vanillablue on May 22, 2008 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
getting kicked out of high school
isn’t immature. okay. his high school coach calling him childish, isn’t a sign of immaturity. alright. Please argue facts. You don’t even know the guy, but you know he isn’t immature. I guess I should take your word for it.
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree,getting kicked out of high school
is not, in itself, a sign of immaturity.
A friend of mine who got kicked out of high school went on to become a fireman actually saves people’s lives. He was a smart kid who liked to fool around, maybe didn’t look too far down the road…but at a critical moment you could, and people do, trust him with their lives.
So I don’t in any way hold the high school stuff against him.
But I also have to say that this article does not make me feel overly confident about the guy. I would really like to hear some stuff about who he is now and how he’s changed.
If the Bulls pick him #1, you’re looking at a guy who will potentially be a $100,000,000 man for them. That’s a lot of trust.
Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky
by alec on May 22, 2008 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was being sarcastic
sorry. hard to tell. i agree with what you are saying
by DangerMouse on May 22, 2008 5:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
No no, don't worry about it.
Alec doesn’t really get anything that doesn’t pertain directly to him. He just couldn’t wait to tell another personal story about himself.
by tyger1147 on May 22, 2008 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Y'know, tyger,
some day I’d like to hear about you. True. I would.
Dum spiro spero! (While there is life, there’s hope!)--Leon Trotsky
by alec on May 22, 2008 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
need not apply
the bulls drafted their PF of the future when they drafted Tyrus Thomas. To many he is already a bust but i do not see it that way. Tyrus can change the game on both ends of the floor like few i have seen even if only fleetingly. Entering his 3rd year and following a year where the whole team stunk because it had a shitty starting pg he is going to improve, a lot! too early to give up on Tyrus but the verdict has been out on Hinrich for a long time (even if white dudes from the burbs who relate to Hinrich only because of his complexion refuse to admit it).
F HINRICH
by 234L on May 22, 2008 4:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You forget the Iowa part.
We also relate to the Iowa part.
On Tyrus, totally agree. Everyone knows that it takes big men longer to develop, and that has been true even since big men played 4 years of college before coming to the show. It’s not like he’s Chandler, who seemed so deep in a mental funk that he was never going to realize his potential here. Tyrus has been improving every year and had moments last year when we were flowing when he was dominant (even with the passing; notice how in his best games he has four or so dimes, each time). Guy is a team player (can we say the same for Beasley, who’s used to being a Melo-like go-to-guy?), honestly cares about defense (and has since college; Beasley hasn’t really shown that), and has already started his NBA-acclimation process. I simply don’t understand giving up on Tyrus. If it ends up being a mistake that we drafted him, so be it. There’s no way that we can know that yet, though. Let’s not make a bigger mistake unloading him before we know.
by arjoseph on May 22, 2008 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I’m not sure that Beasley gets the Bulls anything over what Thomas can provide, other than an outside jumper. Rebounding, blocks, defense – is Beasley any better? And an outside jumper from a PF doesn’t mean he adds anything in the post.
One way to look at it: if Beasley were on the Bulls this season, would he have performed at a higher level than TT? Or would he have p.o.’d everyone, coaches, players, and fans alike, with his immaturity and poor defense? Because I think if Rose were on the Bulls this season, they would have performed significantly better due to his leadership and PG skills.
by BullsFanInSeattle on May 22, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
ahh...
now i get it. tyrus underperforms because of his ‘shitty starting pg’. makes perfect sense.
by leeac on May 22, 2008 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who said Tyrus underperforms?
Other than you, of course?
I think the point above was that TT’s performance is exactly to be expected from a teenage big man who played his second season on a dysfunctional team for a pseudo-tyrant (Skiles) and an outright idiot (Boylan), without even an average NBA PG, while having his minutes yanked around regardless of how he performed on any given night.
Maybe you think the Bulls had all the ingredients for TT to flourish last season, but others here would beg to disagree.
by BullsFanInSeattle on May 22, 2008 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Glut at 4
We already have a huge glut of talent at the 4. Gooden, TT & Noah and you want to add another PF?
Gooden is starting to look like a smart piece of business and Hinrich started to play better playing next to Gooden. TT’s going to improve a lot with both Hinrich (new and improved) and Rose running the point. We see how dominant he could be in some games last year. Maybe with some stability in the squad (for once in his career) we might actually see TT improve to be the 4 option we’ve been looking for.
by Alighieri on May 22, 2008 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
grabbed this quote
from the washington post article linked to above by dangermouse
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/11/AR2007031101466.html:
"Beasley has stopped lifting weights because he's worried about catching a cold in the school gym, a poorly heated third-floor classroom.."NO WAY pax drafts this guy.
F HINRICH
by 234L on May 22, 2008 8:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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