Beasley in select company

I don't take the testing and measurements as gospel, but there are certain things to keep in mind. First, good results mean more than bad results. It's easy for me to see how, for example, Rose might have simply flubbed the lane agility drill. On the other hand, I think it's unlikely a guy will test unusually well if he's actually not that athletic.

Second, it's one thing to score well in one area, but Beasley scored well in most every area.

Aside from being 6'7, he measured out at a very elite level. Strength, reach, wingspan, jumping ability, lane agility and speed all measured out very favorably to the truly elite bigger guys that have come out in the last few years. Melo, Dwight Howard, Amare, Al Horford, Amare.

In short, when I really looked at where he measured, it was in very select company. It made me quite a bit more interested in him, to say the least, because it sort of backs up that he'll be able to compete on a high level against pro competition.

 

theres no question whether he'll be able to compete in the nba. Taking rose over him will be a huge mistake for the bulls if they do.

 

His measurements were encouraging. I don't take too much from them, but a couple of things stood out to me. First, 239 lbs is a pretty hefty number, so it gives me optimism that he could play PF and not strictly be a tweener. Also, from previous experience I've come to put less emphasis on bad showings from high schoolers and underclassmen and less emphasis on very good showings from upper classmen. The extra couple of years running drills seems to help combine times, but it shouldn't change your opinion too much of your opinion on the evidence of four years of high level basketball. Luke Jackson taught me that...I was convinced he was the real deal after his combine performance. Likewise, guys like Al Jefferson and Kevin Durant have had terrible showings, but it's more because their bodies aren't very developed than them not being capable. So, for Beasley to test out like this even though he just turned 19 makes it a little more impressive. I don't think him being a little shorter than advertised means much either. The difference isn't that big and he's good enough that it doesn't really matter.

Overall, I'm still torn on Beasley. On one hand, he seems like the kind of guy who's been a dominant talent since he first picked up a basketball, but he also strikes me as the kind of guy who will take 5-6 years to really put things together, and maybe never. Off the court, he seems like a Rasheed Wallace/Ricky Davis type, probably harmless, but enough of a bonehead to alienate his teammates and coaches and one who may need to shuffle teams for a while before he finds a good situation where he can utilize his talents but be in the right environment so that his temperament isn't an issue. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him until his second contract before he has a team-oriented approach to things. Given all that, I have doubts about how well he'll do in Chicago, regardless of his stats/talent.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rosenthall @ Jun 5 2008, 01:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>His measurements were encouraging. I don't take too much from them, but a couple of things stood out to me. First, 239 lbs is a pretty hefty number, so it gives me optimism that he could play PF and not strictly be a tweener. Also, from previous experience I've come to put less emphasis on bad showings from high schoolers and underclassmen and less emphasis on very good showings from upper classmen. The extra couple of years running drills seems to help combine times, but it shouldn't change your opinion too much of your opinion on the evidence of four years of high level basketball. Luke Jackson taught me that...I was convinced he was the real deal after his combine performance. Likewise, guys like Al Jefferson and Kevin Durant have had terrible showings, but it's more because their bodies aren't very developed than them not being capable. So, for Beasley to test out like this even though he just turned 19 makes it a little more impressive. I don't think him being a little shorter than advertised means much either. The difference isn't that big and he's good enough that it doesn't really matter.

Overall, I'm still torn on Beasley. On one hand, he seems like the kind of guy who's been a dominant talent since he first picked up a basketball, but he also strikes me as the kind of guy who will take 5-6 years to really put things together, and maybe never. Off the court, he seems like a Rasheed Wallace/Ricky Davis type, probably harmless, but enough of a bonehead to alienate his teammates and coaches and one who may need to shuffle teams for a while before he finds a good situation where he can utilize his talents but be in the right environment so that his temperament isn't an issue. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes him until his second contract before he has a team-oriented approach to things. Given all that, I have doubts about how well he'll do in Chicago, regardless of his stats/talent.</div>

To put it another way, if Pat Riley is really willing to pass on the guy, I'm not sure I want to be the guy to take a chance on him. I keep reading that they're interested in trading the #2 pick, which amazes me. The combination of elite level skills and body is pretty hard to resist if they'd be willing to take a couple of our not quite stars off our hands.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MikeDC @ Jun 5 2008, 07:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>To put it another way, if Pat Riley is really willing to pass on the guy, I'm not sure I want to be the guy to take a chance on him. I keep reading that they're interested in trading the #2 pick, which amazes me. The combination of elite level skills and body is pretty hard to resist if they'd be willing to take a couple of our not quite stars off our hands.</div>

Right. Beasley is too talented not to draft, but maybe too immature to be the centerpiece of a rebuilding effort. I think the best bet for him is if a veteran team trades one of their stars for the first or second pick.

Would Phoenix trade Amare for our #1?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jun 5 2008, 10:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What happened to OJ Mayo? Wasn't he hyped going into college as if he was going to be the next megastar when he got to the NBA? Maybe the Heat should consider him.</div>

According to sources, he was hyped up too much and it has turned NBA Scouts off of him a bit. When you watch someone workout and you're expecting the next LeBron or Kobe, the expectations are very high and even an above average workout looks worse than it is. With that said, Riley has apparently fallen in love with the kid and Dwyane Wade has been training with him recently in Chicago. Some sources are saying Miami will draft Mayo at 2 or trade down and select him at a lower pick. From everything I've heard though, they definitely think Mayo has a brighter future than Beasley.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hunter @ Jun 5 2008, 11:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rosenthall @ Jun 5 2008, 10:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would Phoenix trade Amare for our #1?</div>

I don't think so. They already have one of the best point guards in the game in Steve Nash so Rose doesn't fit a need for them. As far as Amare goes, he has proven that he can play at the NBA level and Beasley hasn't yet. There is no way I would see them trading Amare for any draft pick.

Unless a team really wants Rose, they don't need to get the #1 pick. If they want Beasley they can go for the Heat's pick.
</div>

Well, AFAIK Beasley is still considered the most likely number one pick, so getting the #1 still seems like the best place to go to get him.

As for the Phoenix trade, I think it would make some sense. If you think their production would be comparable, you could trade Larry Hughes and the #1 for Amare.

The contracts of Hughes, Nash, and Shaq would all be off the books at the same time, during the offseason when Dwayne Wade, Lebron, Bosh, et. al become FA's. They'd have enough money to sign two of them, and would presumably be a competitive team in the mean time. It'd be a way for them to bridge the present with the future. It's how they built their current team.

 

I think Riley is just playing mind games with Paxson to try to get Beasley to drop with #2. It seems as though everywhere outside of the Chicago media (who have gotten really bad), they all have Paxson pegged as taking Beasley. (As well as NBADraft.net who stinks, and Draftexpress who put Rose at #1 because Beasley was joking with Mayo during the predraft camp).

Paxson has made it clear in the past that he really doesn't care about the pre-draft camp, and that he does his own tests with the prospects.

I think Mayo may be the pick at #2 if they are left with Rose/Mayo though.

 

Thing is, Beasley's skillset is already so developed at an already young age.

If we take him, perhaps another question to ponder is whether we pair him with Thomas or Deng?

Ideally, the 3 would form (or should form) quite a nice rotation.....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jun 5 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thing is, Beasley's skillset is already so developed at an already young age.

If we take him, perhaps another question to ponder is whether we pair him with Thomas or Deng?

Ideally, the 3 would form (or should form) quite a nice rotation.....</div>

If Thomas puts on some good weight, I say start him and Beasley at 5/4, Deng at the 3, and Gordon at the 2.

From all accounts I have heard, we have three players working balls out on their games so far this summer. Ben Gordon at the Berto Center. I believe Tyrus and Luol are in Orlando...or Houston...somewhere, working with David Thorpe. Tyrus has really become really good friends with Deng over the last year, so that should be a good influence on him.

This team is going to be fun t watch next year, and if we make the right pick (Beasley), I could see us making the ECF....anything less than the 2nd round is going to be a disappointment for me.

 

Beasley will never pass the Paxson stare test. Remember, Aldridge didn't pass the test, but Tyrus did.

Beasley would start laughing if Paxson stares at him for 5 minutes without saying anything during dinner.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane @ Jun 5 2008, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Jun 5 2008, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Beasley will never pass the Paxson stare test. Remember, Aldridge didn't pass the test, but Tyrus did.

Beasley would start laughing if Paxson stares at him for 5 minutes without saying anything during dinner.</div>

That was the Skiles stare-test, FWIW.

And you make the case for Pax taking Beasley - if Tyrus passed the test, then Beasley would easily do so
</div>

Ah yes, my mistake. The Skiles stare test.

Big difference in personalities though. Beasley enjoys joking around while Tyrus is a sullen, cocky SOB.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 5 2008, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jun 5 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thing is, Beasley's skillset is already so developed at an already young age.

If we take him, perhaps another question to ponder is whether we pair him with Thomas or Deng?

Ideally, the 3 would form (or should form) quite a nice rotation.....</div>

If Thomas puts on some good weight, I say start him and Beasley at 5/4, Deng at the 3, and Gordon at the 2.

From all accounts I have heard, we have three players working balls out on their games so far this summer. Ben Gordon at the Berto Center. I believe Tyrus and Luol are in Orlando...or Houston...somewhere, working with David Thorpe. Tyrus has really become really good friends with Deng over the last year, so that should be a good influence on him.

This team is going to be fun t watch next year, and if we make the right pick (Beasley), I could see us making the ECF....anything less than the 2nd round is going to be a disappointment for me.
</div>

I don't see Beasle and Tyrus working out on the same team. To be honest, I wonder if Beasley and Deng might have some weird moments too. Both of those guys seem like PF's too me, and sort of the same type as well. Although maybe Tyrus is lousy enough that it won't make a difference.

I think Tyrus would likely have to be packaged one of Ben/Kirk and maybe Gooden for a marquee player if Beasley was drafted.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rosenthall @ Jun 6 2008, 12:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 5 2008, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jun 5 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thing is, Beasley's skillset is already so developed at an already young age.

If we take him, perhaps another question to ponder is whether we pair him with Thomas or Deng?

Ideally, the 3 would form (or should form) quite a nice rotation.....</div>

If Thomas puts on some good weight, I say start him and Beasley at 5/4, Deng at the 3, and Gordon at the 2.

From all accounts I have heard, we have three players working balls out on their games so far this summer. Ben Gordon at the Berto Center. I believe Tyrus and Luol are in Orlando...or Houston...somewhere, working with David Thorpe. Tyrus has really become really good friends with Deng over the last year, so that should be a good influence on him.

This team is going to be fun t watch next year, and if we make the right pick (Beasley), I could see us making the ECF....anything less than the 2nd round is going to be a disappointment for me.
</div>

I don't see Beasle and Tyrus working out on the same team. To be honest, I wonder if Beasley and Deng might have some weird moments too. Both of those guys seem like PF's too me, and sort of the same type as well. Although maybe Tyrus is lousy enough that it won't make a difference.

I think Tyrus would likely have to be packaged one of Ben/Kirk and maybe Gooden for a marquee player if Beasley was drafted.
</div>

Gordon isn't going anywhere if we draft Beasley. Gordon/Beasley is the inside-out scoring duo we've been looking for all this time, so hopefully Paxson takes it.

This is why Paxson has to do my Okafor Plan. Although I doubt it would happen because Reindsorf is a cheap ass.

We should go to Okafor's house on the first day of free agency with Reindsorf, Paxson, and Gordon and get him to agree to come to Chicago for a near Max contract. Then once you have him hooked on your franchise, begin working out the Sign and Trade with Charlotte. I would assume Gooden and Thomas would be the package.

This would give us, if we wanted, a starting lineup of:

PG-Kirk Hinrich
SG-Ben Gordon
SF-Luol Deng
PF-Michael Beasley
C- Emeka Okafor

I would feel really good with that team offensively and defensively. Then we'd still have Duhon (or someone like Pargo), Thabo, Nocioni, Noah, and Gray off the bench.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rosenthall @ Jun 6 2008, 01:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BG7 Lavigne @ Jun 5 2008, 09:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jun 5 2008, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Thing is, Beasley's skillset is already so developed at an already young age.

If we take him, perhaps another question to ponder is whether we pair him with Thomas or Deng?

Ideally, the 3 would form (or should form) quite a nice rotation.....</div>

If Thomas puts on some good weight, I say start him and Beasley at 5/4, Deng at the 3, and Gordon at the 2.

From all accounts I have heard, we have three players working balls out on their games so far this summer. Ben Gordon at the Berto Center. I believe Tyrus and Luol are in Orlando...or Houston...somewhere, working with David Thorpe. Tyrus has really become really good friends with Deng over the last year, so that should be a good influence on him.

This team is going to be fun t watch next year, and if we make the right pick (Beasley), I could see us making the ECF....anything less than the 2nd round is going to be a disappointment for me.
</div>

I don't see Beasle and Tyrus working out on the same team. To be honest, I wonder if Beasley and Deng might have some weird moments too. Both of those guys seem like PF's too me, and sort of the same type as well. Although maybe Tyrus is lousy enough that it won't make a difference.

I think Tyrus would likely have to be packaged one of Ben/Kirk and maybe Gooden for a marquee player if Beasley was drafted.
</div>

I can't imagine any of those guys are gonna get back a marquee player unless it's Kirk and change for Beasley. I sort of doubt that too, actually, but at least I can see some logic to Miami trading the #2 pick. Or if they really did take Mayo #2, the TWolves might look to deal at #3.

And I really do think Rose/Beasley would work out better than Curry/Chandler. They'd come in more experienced and to a better team. And while Curry and Chandler ended up both being centers, Rose and Beasley would form a natural set of complements. The more I think about it, the more that's the deal we ought to pursue if there's any truth at all to the Heat wavering on Beasley.