The Los Angeles Lakers might have competition for free agent Michael Beasley. The San Antonio Spurs reportedly plan to work out the 25-year-old forward, leading to the possibility of him being offered a contract ahead of training camp.
League-wide interest in Beasley seemed to dissipate since September, with the Lakers being the only team reportedly pursuing him. That might not be the case any longer, though, according to Adrian Wajnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
"Free-agent forward Michael Beasley is working out for the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs at the franchise's practice facility this week, league sources told Yahoo Sports," Wojnarowski wrote Wednesday. "Beasley has had several workouts for teams this summer, including two with the Los Angeles Lakers, but remains unsigned for the 2014-15 season."
Beasley is coming off an improved -- but not great -- season with the Miami Heat. Despite the season, all reports indicate Miami has zero interest in bringing the former No. 2 pick of the 2008 draft back for another stint. Beasley's well-documented off-the-court issues appear to be the biggest deterrent for teams needing a small forward.
The Lakers are at least one team willing to look past Beasley's non-basketball issues. The holdup for a Lakers-Beasley deal, though, appears to be his unwillingness to take a nonguaranteed contract, possibly out of the belief his NBA career will be over if he's released again.
"Hard to say what's gonna happen with Mike... he is still getting paid by the (Phoenix) Suns so he doesn't have to take an offer that is not good for him and his camp understand(s) he can't sign somewhere and get cut or he's finished," Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders wrote Tuesday night. "He may wait for an injury or a roster to change by trade or someone getting cut.
"The Lakers usually keep the final roster spots non-guaranteed and I don't think Beasley agrees to that unless he's assured to get a chance and I am not sure the Lakers are willing to do that."
Los Angeles also reportedly is eying journeyman Alonzo Gee, whom many expect to become a free agent soon.
