6. Michael Beasley, traded in 2010
During the 2008 NBA Draft, after falling to No. 2 in the NBA Draft Lottery, the Miami Heat selected the “consolation prize” to Derrick Rose. Michael Beasley was an offensive wizard but lacked the intangibles that it took to blossom into an NBA star. After playing two seasons with the Heat, Miami (in an attempt to create additional cap space) traded Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves to make room for the Big Three.
Even though it was a necessary move, trading a 22-year-old player with as much offensive talent as Beasley possessed is still pretty crazy looking back. I get it. Any team would’ve made the move if it meant landing LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. Still, with as great as this team has been with internal player development, you can’t help but wonder if Beasley’s career ends up differently if he stays in Miami.
During Beasley’s first season in Minnesota, he would go on to average 19 points and six rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent shooting from 3-point range. But that was the last time Beasley truly flashed as a player.
Beasley had an 11-year career (with seven teams, including two stints in Miami) in the NBA but never truly developed into the player that many believed he could be. Perhaps he does blossom into that player if the Heat had fully invested in him.