Swanigan replacement number three – Michael Beasley
The controversial but vastly talented Michael Beasley could be an out of the box free agent signing for the Blazers. The number two pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, Beasley has been in and out of the league over the last 12 years.
Offcourt problems combined with non-shooting forwards not having a place in the league anymore has meant that Beasley hasn’t had the career that some maybe thought he was capable of when he first game into the league.
Beasley last played in the league on the disappointing Los Angeles Lakers in the 2018/19 season. A poorly constructed roster meant that he was unable to show that he still had value as a role player in the NBA.
This season, Beasley was close to signing with the Detroit Pistons but wasn’t able to make the roster after working out with them over the summer.
Beasley is a skilled power forward; although he isn’t a reliable three-point shooter, he can still knock down the midrange and flourish against second units. Beasley is a good passer and finisher at the rim, and if his off-court issues aren’t a problem anymore, he could potentially help a team in the playoffs.
He is an instant offense type of guy who at six-foot-nine could provide some mongrel and energy for the Blazers bench. He isn’t a great defender but could play alongside other good defenders in Gary Trent Jr, and Jusuf Nurkic to mitigate his weaknesses.
The overall options at the big men positions aren’t great for the Blazers, but they need one more big body as insurance for the Orlando bubble. If someone does go down sick, they must have an adequate backup to get a full squad out on the floor.