NBA Rumors: Michael Beasley Could End Up Being Starter For Houston Rockets

NBA rumors are suggesting that the Houston Rockets are about to add the MVP of the Chinese Basketball Association to their roster to help finish off the rest of the regular season. According to ESPN, Michael Beasley is set to sign with the Rockets. The move would signal yet another chance for the former second overall NBA Draft pick, and it would also provide the Rockets with a potential rotation member for the following year.

Back in 2008, Michael Beasley was the second overall selection in the NBA Draft. The Kansas State Wildcats star had envisioned himself having a long and illustrious career in the National Basketball Association. Things didn’t really work out, and he found himself in the Chinese Basketball Association instead. Rather than playing with Dwayne Wade, he ended up playing with Ding Yanyuhang.

After a stellar season, Michael Beasley has once again caught the attention of those in the NBA. He averaged 31.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, two steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, which was good enough to earn him the Foreign MVP Award. It was also good enough to earn Beasley another chance to show that he can be a productive player in the NBA. The Houston Rockets have decided to take the bait.

The Houston Rockets are currently sitting on a 29-31 record, which is good enough for the eight seed in the Western Conference. The team has a good chance, especially with James Harden still around, at fending off the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, and Denver Nuggets for that final spot in the NBA Playoffs. However, winning the championship seems unlikely. That’s why the Rockets are keeping one eye on the playoffs and an eye towards next season.

The future is a little shaky for the Houston Rockets. James Harden is their centerpiece, and that’s the only thing that’s really a certainty. Dwight Howard has the option to become a free agent this summer, and the belief is that another NBA team is going to overpay for his services. With the expected departure of Howard, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey will need to find a new surrounding cast for Harden.

In the back court, Patrick Beverley is a good player, but he seems like he could be had if the right offer was made to the Houston Rockets. Jason Terry is a good veteran to have around, but his future in the NBA is unsure. KJ McDaniels hasn’t shown that he can handle more than trash minutes, so the Rockets aren’t banking on anything there. The release of Ty Lawson clears a major headache for Houston.

On the front line, the only thing that seems certain for the Houston Rockets is Clint Capela. At 6’10”, 240 pounds, the rookie from Switzerland has a really bright future in the NBA. The Rockets view him as their center of the future. Josh Smith is just a rental. Donatas Motiejunas is more than likely going to leave after nearly being traded. Trevor Ariza has a declining contract, so several NBA teams would be interested in acquiring him this summer.

With so many question marks on the roster, Michael Beasley is stepping into a pretty good situation. If his skills can transfer from the CBA to the NBA, then Beasley has a chance to become a starter in the United States again. With Clint Capela moving from power forward to center, his old position could be filled by Beasley. With Patrick Beverly and James Harden in the back court, then the Houston Rockets would only need to find a small forward in the NBA Draft.

[Featured Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images]