Former No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley are reportedly close to reaching a one-year deal with the New York Knicks, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.
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New York Knicks and former No. 2 overall pick Michael Beasley are nearing agreement on a one-year deal, a league source told @BBallInsiders.
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) August 8, 2017
Beasley, who was drafted by the Miami Heat at No. 2 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft, appeared in 56 games last season for the Milwaukee Bucks, who were his fifth NBA team. The former Kansas State standout averaged 9.4 points and 3.4 rebounds, while shooting 53 percent in 16.7 minutes per game.
Despite making numerous stops with different NBA teams, Beasley is still just 28 years old and could be an insurance policy if star forward Carmelo Anthony is traded. However, he has only appeared in 100 games during the past three seasons, which included a stint with the Houston Rockets in 2015-16 and a second stint with Miami.
"He can flat out score — isos along the right baseline," one NBA scout told the NY Post. "He could be a perfect replacement for Melo if he's traded."
Beasley has had several incidents with marijuana throughout his NBA career. After being drafted, Beasley was fined $50,000 for a marijuana-related incident that occurred during the Rookie Transition Program. He also spent time in a substance-abuse treatment center in 2009, prior to being shipped to the Minnesota Timberwolves after just two seasons.
After acquiring the former No. 2 overall draft pick, Timberwolves president David Kahn called Beasley "a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana."
He was also arrested on marijuana charges in 2013 while playing for the Phoenix Suns. Beasley also faced multiple driving violations during his time in Phoenix, including driving 71 mph in a 45-mph zone without a license plate.
