The future for Michael Beasley could be starting to look a bit cloudy in Phoenix. The troubled NBA star considered by most to be overpaid, could be out after the team traded away veteran Caron Butler to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange of Ish Smith.
The move now has the Suns at 17 players, 15 players have partially guaranteed contracts. This puts the team in tough situation and the odd man out could be Beasley. The forward is the fourth-highest paid player on the roster. He is owed $6 million this season since he was the second overall pick in the NBA Draft just a few years ago. However his lack of production on the court mixed with his marijuana use off the court makes him an easy target to let go.
The Arizona Republic reports that a release or trade of Beasley could be the easiest way to start relieving the roster. The issue is of course money. The Phoenix front office would need to pay Beasley $9 million just for the forward not to play with them. Paul Coro writes that Beasley is an expected waiver and possibly Channing Frye could be the other player who's career is up in the air.
Beasley would not be missed on the court. He averaged a career-low 10.1 points per game in 2012, shooting 40.5 percent from the field. He is a productive swingman, but too many off-the-court issues have clouded that. Not to mention the fact that he just one year into a three-year contract worth $18 million.
The Suns will likely test the market and see if Beasley has any trade value. His multiple drug arrests and an appearance in a sexual assault case make that unlikely. Phoenix could cut Beasley outright and just suffer the salary cap hit. It would get him off the books quicker. There is also a "stretch provision" the team could use. By cutting Beasley before Sept. 1, they could use the clause and just owe him $1.8 million over five seasons, lessening the salary cap hit.
Phoenix had been staying mum on the Beasley situation, but the trade of Butler will likely open discussions back up. The Suns have plenty of cap space, so taking the two year hit is not the worst option in the world. Beasley could also stay on the roster and turn his production around. With trade or release rumors starting to pick up around him, that option seems unlikely.
