Minnesota Timberwolves: Top 30 Scorers in Franchise History
By Ben Beecken
#16 – Michael Beasley
Beasley is one of a few former Wolves on this list who had the absolute best in scoring talents but lacked consistency, know-how and, on the other end of the floor, the defensive effort or ability to justify teams keeping a spot warm for them in the NBA.
Cool Beas was acquired for a couple of second-round picks in the summer of 2010, just two years removed from being the second-overall selection in the 2008 draft. The Wolves were willing to take a flyer on him, and he indeed scored in a variety of ways when the reigns were taken off and he was let loose on the league.
Of course, the 2010-11 Timberwolves won exactly 17 games while a 22 year-old Beasley dropped 19.2 points per game. He did shoot 45 percent from the floor and 36.6 percent from three-point range, but his high usage rate and inconsistencies both on the glass and defensively mitigated his overall effect.
He showed flashes in 2011-12 playing alongside rookie point guard Ricky Rubio but played in just 47 games due to injuries and averaged just 11.5 points per game. The Wolves let him walk as a free agent and he landed one sizable payday in Phoenix before they waived him and he landed in Miami.
Beasley actually played a little bit on the 2013-14 Heat playoff squad and re-signed again at the end of the 2014-15 season, but he’s back overseas now and seems unlikely to make another return although he remains just 27 years old.
Next: #15 - Ricky Davis