November 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra appreciates the passion when it comes to forward Michael Beasley. He also appreciates the significance of winning. So amid outcry that he feature the 2008 lottery pick more often, Spoelstra said he takes no umbrage. "I don't have a problem with it, either," he said before Friday's 96-88 victory over the Denver Nuggets at AmericanAirlines Arena. "I like the interest that people have in him right now, because they see the potentially that we see every day. "To me, when I look at the big picture of this, this is part of a young player's development. And, ultimately, it's about winning games. But we're developing guys at the same time." Spoelstra said it is ..."
October 27
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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An alarm sounded around the NBA, heard by all with any interest in, or links to, Michael Beasley. That included a fellow former collegiate star who had faced him in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before getting selected one spot later in the 2008 NBA draft. "Um, just a wakeup call," Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo said. "Understanding that you can't take this lifestyle for granted." As rookies, Mayo nearly led a losing squad in scoring while Beasley provided bench offense for a Heat playoff team. Then word spread of Beasley's league-mandated presence in a Houston substance abuse rehabilitation center, a stay extended due to unsettling statements and mysterious baggies on his ..."
October 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat moved in advance of the league's Oct. 31 deadline when Tuesday it picked up the 2010-11 rookie-scale options on the contracts of 2008 first-round pick Michael Beasley and 2007 first-round pick Daequan Cook. Had the Heat failed to make such a move, each would have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. With both working on relatively low-cost contracts, the Heat, even with its desire to maximize its salary-cap space for 2010 free agency, decided to move forward with the options. Beasley, who will earn $4.6 million this season, his second in the league, is now guaranteed a $5 million salary in 2010-11. Cook, who will earn $1.4 million this season, is now ..."
October 16
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Returning close to his college roots, Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley spoke before Thursday night's 97-81 exhibition victory over the New Orleans Hornets about maturity and opportunities lost. Asked by those who covered him during his lone college season at Kansas State whether he might have been better off staying on campus for at least one additional year, Beasley did not necessarily disagree. "Now that I look back on it," he said, "maybe that would have helped. But I can't look back." A year removed from an uneven start to his pro career, Beasley said he is comfortable where he is in his second season with the Heat. "I'm just living my life right now, letting everything fall into ..."
October 15
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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A team-wide session on Ustream led to an awkward moment for forward Michael Beasley, as the Miami Heat prepared for Wednesday night's 96-91 exhibition loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the BOK Center. Following up on a session initially put together by Heat guard Dwyane Wade, Beasley found himself responding Tuesday night to a posted comment relating to his substance-abuse issues this summer. As he read the comment on the live video feed, teammates Daequan Cook and Mario Chalmers, who were in his room participating in the live Internet stream at the time, grew quiet. In response to a snarky comment of knowing how to hide his stash, Beasley playfully responded about how true that was. ..."
October 12
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The experiment was put on hold Sunday. Michael Beasley was back at power forward for the Miami Heat, back at the spot where he built his lottery reputation at Kansas State, back where he earned first-team All-Rookie last season. The move certainly wasn't a definitive switch. Nothing can be definitive when Dwyane Wade, Jermaine O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili all are held out of the same game, which was the case with the 95-93 exhibition loss to the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. But by playing Udonis Haslem off the bench, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gave himself the chance to look at Plan B, which many considered Plan A when Beasley was taken with the No. 2 pick in the 2008 ..."
October 6
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The Miami Heat's's exhibition opener, an 87-83 loss Monday to the Detroit Pistons at the Palace of Auburn Hills, proved to be as much about the composition of the roster as those on the court. Lacking proven depth at power forward and a tested presence at point guard, the Heat was exposed on two levels. Foremost, the experiment of opening with Michael Beasley at small forward was short-circuited when starting power forward Udonis Haslem got into quick foul trouble. Beyond that, the lack of a quality on-ball defender left the Heat exposed at point guard. "We were sloppy, didn't play with energy," coach Erik Spoelstra said. Within the game's first four minutes, Beasley was forced to shift to ..."
September 22
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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For the first time in more than a month, Michael Beasley played a home game Monday. Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra confirmed that the second-year forward joined teammates for an informal workout on the team's practice court at AmericanAirlines Arena a day after returning from an extended stay at a Houston substance-abuse rehab center. "He looks good. He looked good. He's fit," Spoelstra said. Beasley was released Sunday from an inpatient facility, following a 30-day stay mandated by the league's substance-abuse program. He had previously been in an outpatient rehab facility in Houston. Despite being away from his teammates for such an extended period, Beasley constantly found himself in ..."
September 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Heat forward Michael Beasley returned Sunday to South Florida after his release from a Houston substance-abuse center earlier in the day. Beasley, who was moved into an inpatient facility last month after violating his NBA-imposed substance-abuse program, is expected to work out with teammates Monday morning at AmericanAirlines Arena. Beasley was allowed to work with Heat coaches and trainers during his inpatient treatment in Houston, but Monday will mark the first time in more than a month that he will work with teammates. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft was placed into the league's substance-abuse program after a violation at last year's rookie symposium, when Beasley was ..."
September 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Michael Beasley Sr. said Saturday that his son is scheduled to be released from a Houston rehab center Sunday and expects the Miami Heat to experience a more mature player upon the second-year forward's return to the practice court. "He said he learned a lot about himself in this process," the elder Beasley said by phone, "and it was a wake-up call for him that he needs to take his career more seriously." The younger Beasley has been in inpatient treatment since last month, after committing a violation while in the NBA's substance-abuse program. His father said the two spoke for more the two hours on the eve of the forward's scheduled release. "He's OK. He's got his head together. He's ..."
September 19
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Michael Beasley's extended tenure at a Houston rehab facility has reached its finish line. A source familiar with the terms of Beasley's stay at the substance-abuse center said the second-year Miami Heat forward is on the verge of completing his treatment program this weekend. The Heat declined comment Friday, but ESPN.com reported that Beasley would be free to leave the facility this weekend. Heat President Pat Riley said last week that Beasley would be back in time for the start of training camp, which opens Sept. 28 at AmericanAirlines Arena. Beasley's personal manager, Bruce Shingler, declined comment. "I was advised not to speak about it," he said. Beasley, 20, was placed into the ..."
August 25
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley recently checked into a Houston rehabilitation facility, amid concerns about his well being. Two sources familiar with the situation said Beasley was at the facility before the recent flap regarding a photo he posted to his since-discontinued Twitter account that showed what might be perceived as baggies of marijuana in the background. "Mike is a little down right now because of all that's going on," personal manager Bruce Shingler said Monday. "This is all added stress for him." Under NBA rules, teams are not allowed to comment on the league's substance-abuse policies. However, it has been confirmed through an independent source that Beasley has entered ..."
August 24
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The South Florida Sun Sentinel has learned that Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley recently checked into a Houston rehabilitation facility, amid concerns about his mental well being. A source familiar with the situation said Beasley was at the facility before the recent flap regarding a photo he posted to his since-discontinued Twitter account that showed what might be taken as baggies of marijuana in the background. Under NBA rules, teams are not allowed to comment on the league's substance-abuse policies or other such wellness program. However, it has been confirmed that Beasley has entered into a program. Under the league's substance-abuse program, teams are not informed of a player's ..."
May 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
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When Pat Riley said signing Dwyane Wade was the top priority this offseason — "Absolutely," the Heat president said Wednesday — that's all I needed to hear about Michael Beasley's future. Start packing. Enjoy Toronto. Sorry it couldn't work out, because watching you grow would have been fun. That's why part of me hates to write this: Trading Beasley for Chris Bosh this summer becomes the safest, smartest, simplest move for the Heat to make. Maybe it's even the best move, though it's not the one with the biggest upside. This all will take some explaining and connecting of dots. Let's start here: This is about Wade, not Beasley. Wade drives the franchise. Wade sells the tickets. Wade is the ..."
May 7
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat President Pat Riley said Wednesday he could envision Michael Beasley emerging as his team's starting small forward. "He can play that spot, there's no doubt," Riley said, in a 48-minute season wrap-up session at AmericanAirlines Arena. "There's some power small forwards in this league. I'm a believer in Michael. I think he can play that position." Beasley spent almost the entire season as a backup power forward, despite being the No. 2 selection in last June's NBA Draft. Riley compared Beasley to oversized small forwards he had coached, such as James Worthy and Anthony Mason. "I think Michael has the ability to be one of the best three-fours in the game," he said of muscular ..."
May 2
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
columnist Dave Hyde
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He put his fist in the air now, high in the air on a night he mattered in the way Dwyane Wade has been waiting Michael Beasley to matter this series. Now Beasley had taken Atlanta's undersized forward Maurice Evans inside for two easy points, just as he took 6-9 Josh Smith for some tougher ones earlier. He was running back on defense, raised his fist, and the crowd turned up the volume in the way this crowd always does for the rookie. On nights like this, you again see Beasley's talent, his soft shot, his coming future. He produced 22 points, 15 rebounds and helped hold Smith to seven points, even if Smith was responsible for most of that. Now comes something harder than this Heat win, ..."
April 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Walk into the Heat's gym after any practice and there is a good chance forward Michael Beasley will be goofing off. This time it was Beasley throwing a medicine ball at teammate Jermaine O'Neal, then hiding behind a door in fear of retaliation. Beasley was so preoccupied with clowning around that he could hardly sit still for an interview. It was a small window into what the Heat sees each day with its 20-year-old, fun-loving rookie. "At times we don't like it," said Heat guard Dwyane Wade. "At times we love it." Coach Erik Spoelstra said Beasley has yet to find the proper balance between working and play time. That might be a reason Spoelstra wouldn't commit to starting Beasley tonight ..."
April 10
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Heat coach Erik Spoelstra wouldn't commit to starting Michael Beasley against the Boston Celtics tomorrow night, saying the rookie forward still needs to improve his defense and take a more serious approach to his job. Beasley had 25 points and nine rebounds while playing a season-high 48 minutes during the Heat's 93-87 overtime loss to New Orleans Tuesday night. Spoelstra opened the second half with Beasley at power forward but said he wouldn't make a decision on the starting lineup for the Celtics game until tomorrow. "Michael is a confident guy regardless of whether he's playing with the first or second unit," Spoelstra said before the Heat departed for Boston. "He gave us some very ..."
April 9
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went into Tuesday's game against the Hornets insisting there was "no conspiracy theory" when it came to rookie forward Michael Beasley. In that case, pencil Beasley into the starting lineup for Friday's road game against the Boston at TD Banknorth Garden. If ever Beasley needed to prove he belonged, his performance in the overtime loss to New Orleans offered ample evidence. In playing a career-high 48 minutes, the No. 2 overall pick in last June's NBA Draft finished with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and nine rebounds. "He played a strong game," Spoelstra said. So strong that after Spoelstra inserted him with 6:45 to play in the first quarter, Beasley never ..."
March 9
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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Jamario Moon arrived three weeks ago; now he's starting. Yakhouba Diawara had been starting; now he doesn't play. James Jones worked his way back from injury, but hasn't worked his way back into the rotation. And Dorell Wright worked hard enough back from his own injury to at least get a sniff of playing time. To say the Heat's rotation at small forward has been muddled since the Feb. 13 trade that sent Shawn Marion to Toronto would be an understatement. Yet what is clear, at least according to the approach of coach Erik Spoelstra, is that first-round pick Michael Beasley is not an alternative at the position, no matter how available the minutes might be. "I don't like that," Spoelstra ..."
February 13
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
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The last time Heat forward Michael Beasley played as a teammate with Derrick Rose, he finished the 2007 McDonald's All-America Game as the Most Valuable Player. Tonight Beasley will be able to call the point guard a teammate again, at the All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge in Phoenix. "It was fun, it was crazy last time," said Rose, who tonight will join Beasley on a team of first-year players against second-year players. "He was killing everyone, scoring on everyone, getting a lot of rebounds." Beasley finished that game in Louisville with 23 points and 12 rebounds. "He's a real fun guy to play with," Beasley said. "He's quick. He gets the team involved." Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said ..."