SB Nation Minnesota - David Kahn Says Michael Beasley 'Smoked Too Much Marijuana' In Miami

Kahn Fined $50,000 For Comments About Beasley

2010-07-23T21:24:07Z

The NBA fined Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn $50,000 according to the Pioneer Press.

The team itself was also has fined the team $50,000 for Kahn’s “inappropriate comments” concerning recently acquired forward Michael Beasley.

While it wasn’t mentioned in the release, the most egregious comment was probably Kahn’s referring to Beasley’s pot smoking.

“He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore, and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case,” Kahn said.

David Kahn Says Michael Beasley Smoked Too Much Marijuana In Miami

2010-07-22T20:19:19Z

Minnesota Timberwolves president David Kahn went on record with some interesting remarks about recent Timberwolves acquisition Michael Beasley while talking to Tom Pelissero from ESPN radio Thursday.

“He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore, and I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case,” Kahn said.

Kahn went on to justify Beasley’s immaturity by noting that he’s still growing up, even saying that if Kahn would have been put in the same situation that he wouldn’t have handled it any easier.

“He has developed a really good support system around him this past season in Miami. He’s hired people to help him grow up. He is growing up — he’s not grown up. He’s 21 … and he just turned 21 last January, and if you think back, as I do all the time, to when I was 21 and if you had given me this kind of money and put me in this kind of world with these kinds of pressures attached to it and some of the demands, I don’t know (that) I would have handled it any easier than, say, he has.”

Kahn also believes that due to Beasley being so young that he’ll be able to learn from his mistakes going forward.

“I think that if Michael was 25 or 26, maybe I would have felt differently about things. But I feel very strongly that some of these kids simply deserve the opportunity to make mistakes and grow up. The issue is, will they learn from their mistakes? Will they grow from them? In Michael’s case, there’s no evidence yet to suggest he won’t, meaning that he should be able to grow from these mistakes.”

Last, but not least, Kahn reminds everyone that he’s willing to take risks.

“So far, so good by the way. He had a very issue-free season last season in Miami. So, we expect more of the same with us. We’re very cognizant that we, too, as a club have to help him with some resources and make certain that we’ve got everything there to help him continue to grow. But I think it’s going to be fine, and he’s an incredible talent, and for us to be able to land him for … two second-round picks — that’s the kind of risk that I’ll take any day of the week.”

Timberwolves Officially Acquire Michael Beasley

2010-07-13T02:29:07Z

It took four days for it to become official, but the Minnesota Timberwolves have acquired Michael Beasley from the Miami Heat in exchange for two second-round draft picks and cash considerations.

After early reports had the Timberwolves sending one second round pick and the two sides swapping first round picks within the next seven years, the terms of the deal changed, with the Wolves sending two second round picks and money to the Heat in exchange for the 21-year old forward.

#Timberwolves-Heat Beasley trade no longer has first-round pick swap, second-round picks in 2011 and 2014 and cash considerations instead.

Michael Beasley Deal Could Be Finalized Monday

2010-07-10T23:11:45Z

There has been no comment from the Minnesota Timberwolves on forward Michael Beasley. That’s because the deal has still not been officially completed. Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune hints that the deal could be finalized with the league office on Monday; potentially after the Wolves make an additional roster move.

David Kahn wouldn’t talk today about Michael Beasley and the trade agreed upon with Miami late Thursday night because the deal hadn’t been finalized with the league office.

That might not come until Monday now, quite possibly because the Wolves have one more move to make before completing the Beasley deal.

Could that move be trading Al Jefferson?

We’ll see soon enough.

John Hollinger Loves Michael Beasley Trade For Minnesota

2010-07-10T01:45:50Z

ESPN analyst John Hollinger has been critical of Minnesota general manager David Kahn recently but he is a big fan of the Timberwolves’ trade for Michael Beasley.

I remain stubbornly fond of Beasley despite his struggles in Miami. For starters, he’s played dramatically better as a power forward than a small forward, and hopefully that will be his full-time position in Minnesota. According to 82games.com, Beasley had a PER of 18.9 as a power forward and just 14.9 as a small forward, which is entirely consistent with his advantages as a player — he’s too quick for power forwards to guard, but not quite skilled enough on the blocks to take advantage of small forwards.

Even with that, he’s not exactly chopped liver. He’s averaged better than a point every two minutes for his NBA career and he’s only 21 years old. This is exactly the type of player the Wolves should be looking to snatch as part of their rebuilding project — young, talented players that circumstance places on their doorstep for a pittance.

Meanwhile, Stop-n-Pop of SB Nation’s Canis Hoopus argues that Kahn has gotten a bad rap this summer and says the Beasley trade is a risk-free venture for Minnesota.

As for Mike Beasley, the Wolves get a peak at the 2nd pick in the 2008 Draft for a swap of first rounders with the Heat sometime in the next 7 years. There is literally no downside to this deal. Al Jefferson is on his way out so we don’t have to worry about the logjam at the 4, there will be plenty of minutes for Beasley to showcase whatever chip he should have on his shoulder at this point in his career, and it’s not like the Wolves aren’t getting a guy who still has a massive upside.

There will always be the issue of him getting his head screwed on straight, but the one player I have always viewed as a valid comp for Beasley is a poor man’s Carmelo Anthony.

First-Round Swap Can Be Pushed Back

2010-07-09T22:15:38Z

As part of the Michael Beasley trade, the Minnesota Timberwolves also agreed to swap first round picks with the Miami Heat as Ben Golliver mentioned below. Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune writes that this section of the trade can be pushed back up to seven years from now.

The Wolves agreed to absorb Beasley’s $5 million salary in exchange for a 2011 second-round pick and a swap of future first-round picks that the Wolves can extend out to seven years from now.

The early consensus on the acquisition seems to be good for the Wolves. The move is low-risk, high-reward, and Beasley is still just 21-years old.

Further Details On Michael Beasley Trade

2010-07-09T04:08:08Z

Jerry Zgoda of the Star-Tribune adds that the Michael Beasley trade also includes a swap of future first round picks. Of course, a swap would only take place if the Timberwolves finish above the Heat in the standings. That will probably happen… never.

Report: Minnesota Trades For Miami Heat Forward Michael Beasley

2010-07-09T03:48:10Z

ESPN's Marc Stein reports via twitter that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat have agreed to a trade that will send troubled small forward Michael Beasley, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 draft, from Miami to Minnesota.

ESPN.com sources: Miami has agree to a trade with Minnesota that will send Michael Beasley to the Wolves. Link forthcomingless than a minute ago via TweetDeckMarc Stein
STEIN_LINE_HQ

Wolves-Heat deal, sources say, calls for 'Sota to absorb Beasley into cap space and send its 2011 second-round pick to Miami to seal dealless than a minute ago via TweetDeckMarc Stein
STEIN_LINE_HQ

For everything Timberwolves, head over to SB Nation's Canis Hoopus.