Detroit Pistons: Where does Michael Beasley fit in the lineup?
The Detroit Pistons added veteran forward, Michael Beasley, to the 2019 lineup. Although he will probably not start, Beasley does add size and experience to the Detroit forwards.
Right out of college, Michael Beasley was anticipated to be a longtime star. The Miami Heat selected him second overall in the 2008 Draft (meaning the Detroit Pistons now have both the first and second pick from 2008, along with Derrick Rose). Despite being a mostly above-average player, his tenure with the Heat did not last long: Beasley spent time on seven different teams in his ten years.
Beasley has a lot to add to the Pistons. He takes quite a few shots and makes a good deal of them–because they are mostly high-percentage shots within the lane. This could be crucial, as the Pistons were in the bottom third in offensive rating partly because they did not take enough shots.
He will also be a credible rebounding threat, potentially relieving some of the lane pressure around Andre Drummond. Beasley should be able to provide twenty minutes off the bench, whether he is backing up Blake Griffin or Tony Snell. Furthermore, Beasley brings all-important playoff experience should the Pistons make it there in the spring.
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Unfortunately, though, Beasley is coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career with the Lakers. Nearly every measurable category took a hit, although–interestingly–more plays ran directly through him, and he ended up handling the ball more. Still, he played only 277 minutes, by far the lowest of his career.
His defense was mediocre, although, in a small sample size, his steals and blocks were slightly up. This could be an anomaly, or it could be indicative of something more. At 30 years old, Beasley may not have as many productive seasons left.
There are off-court issues with him as well. Beasley will start the 2019 campaign with a five-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. He will probably be on a short leash with both the coaching staff and the front office.
All said, where does Beasley fit into the Pistons’ lineup? He has never really been starting caliber, so do not expect to see him compete for the role. The natural response is he will compete with Markieff Morris as Griffin’s backup. While older than Morris, Beasley is a better shooter. At 6’9″ and 235 pounds, Beasley is big, but not the biggest player the Pistons put on the court. In fact, despite primarily playing the power forward spot, he has been known to play at the wing also.
While he may not start at the three, the battle for backup between Beasley and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk may be one to watch. If the Pistons decide to run Beasley alongside Griffin or Morris–instead of replacing them–they could bully other teams with size. Granted, more organizations are valuing outside shooting oversize, so such a lineup may not benefit Detroit after all. Beasley may score more than Snell, but Snell has him beat from outside the arc.
Next. Detroit Pistons enjoyed a terrific off-season but will it be enough?. dark
The Detroit Pistons have a bit of an identity crisis at the forward spot. Blake Griffin is the only returning forward who played significant time last year. Thon Maker was a mid-season addition, and Svi only appeared in three games. This year, the forwards are essentially a new group. It is up to Michael Beasley to determine how and where he fits in the organization.