Michael Beasley is headed back to where it all started for him in the NBA. Miami Heat has signed the small forward who was recently waived by the Phoenix Suns.
“Michael had the best years of his career with us,” Heat president Pat Riley said. “We feel that he can help us.”
Before re-signing with the Heat, the Phoenix Suns bought Beasley out of his contract after he was arrested in Arizona on charges of felony marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Suns released Beasley on Sept. 3, paying him $9 million to sever ties, according to a report in The Arizona Republic.
According to the report by Paul Coro:
“Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby negotiated to reduce Beasley’s salary for this season from $6 million to $4.67 million and next season’s guaranteed $3 million of a $6 million salary to $2.33 million. Using the waive-and-spread provision of the collective bargaining agreement, the Suns will spread that $2.33 million in payment and cap hits over the years to $778,000 annually. The buyout, along with the ability to spread next year’s salary, creates $1.4 million in cap space this year (now about $6.7 million of total space) and $2.2 million more of cap space next year.”
Babby released the following statement: “The Suns were devoted to Michael Beasley’s success in Phoenix. However, it is essential that we demand the highest standards of personal and professional conduct as we develop a championship culture. Today’s action reflects our commitment to those standards. The timing and nature of this, and all of our transactions, are based on the judgment of our basketball leadership as to how best to achieve our singular goal of rebuilding an elite team.”
Beasley signed a non-guaranteed deal with Heat and will make $1.027 million if he makes the team.
