2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions: Michael Beasley Still Unsigned! Miami Heat Giving Up On Their 2008 First Round Pick; Will Lakers Take Him?

The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions only have a few questions left unanswered and Michael Beasley is one of them. The Miami Heat was supposed to be his last resort, but it seems like they have closed the door.

Beasley was 'beastly' in his lone college year and is now a poster boy of 'what not to do when you get drafted.' He was so impressive in Kansas State that he was ranked to no.1 in his draft class. The Chicago Bulls saw red flags two weeks before the draft and they took Derrick Rose instead.

Too bad Miami didn't avoid that mistake. Drafted ahead of Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook in one of the more talented drafts in recent memory, Beasley was supposed to be the Heat's second scoring option behind Dwyane Wade. We all know that didn't happen.

Miami eventually found other ways to win. LeBron James took over the small forward/power forward spot and Beasley bounced around the league in the next three seasons. He found his way back to the Heat just when the rest of the league gave up on him.

He tried to make the most of his second chance, but the Heat seem to have other plans. From The Miami Herald:

"A person with direct knowledge cited several reasons for the Heat's lack of interest: Inconsistency, lack of trust in his defense (and ability to execute the Heat's defensive system), and maturity/focus issues, which are still a concern even though he improved somewhat in that regard last season."

The Heat already gave Beasley's jersey number (8) to another NBA journeyman Shawne Williams whom they recently signed. Those were the same issues that hounded him throughout his NBA career, and maybe even before he got drafted.

But hope is not lost yet:

"The Heat has told Beasley it has not closed the door on a return, though Miami never really tells any free agent that it has ruled out a return. But Miami hasn't made an offer to him, either, and it appears barring a change of heart that the Heat has moved on, having given Beasley's jersey number to Williams. The Lakers recently auditioned Beasley."

If there's one team that would gamble on "B-Easy" it would be the Lakers. A minimum contract would be a low risk investment. However, the Lakers already have Nick Young, and he might be more than a handful to handle already.