Free-agent forward Michael Beasley, a talented but enigmatic forward in Minnesota, agreed to sign a three-year deal worth $18 million with the Phoenix Suns, according to sources familiar with the deal. It is just one deal of many the active Suns have been in rebuilding their roster.
Beasley chose the Suns from a group of five suitors after visiting with club officials on Wednesday, while Phoenix also was agreeing to send Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal.
Beasley flew to Phoenix to meet with the Suns on Wednesday, the second time the two parties met. The Suns flew to Los Angeles to meet Beasley earlier this week.
The deal was followed later on Wednesday by the Suns reaching agreement on a four-year, $30 million contract with free agent guard Goran Dragic, who returns to Phoenix after a stint with the Houston Rockets.
While Beasley has been dogged by bouts of immaturity throughout his four-year career, the Suns are not scared off by his reputation and instead are fond of him as a player and a person.
In addition to adding Beasley and working out a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers for Nash, the Suns offered New Orleans shooting guard Eric Gordon maximum $58 million over four years.
While some sources say New Orleans will match the offer for Gordon, others say Gordon’s public statements about preferring Phoenix to the Hornets potentially could lead to discussions on a sign-and-trade deal between the clubs.
