NBA Draft: Re-drafting the 2008 NBA Draft’s first round
By Zach Wilson
#20 Pick – Charlotte Bobcats: Michael Beasley (Originally: Alexis Ajinca)
Michael Beasley at peak talent is likely a top-ten pick in this draft, but his lack of durability and inconsistency has dropped him.
If there was one thing Beasley could do, it was getting buckets, and he proved that at multiple points of his career. Beasley averaged 19.2 points per game in 2010-11 and has six seasons with double-digit scoring.
His lack of ability to contribute to winning basketball and his consistent injury problems is what kept him off the court.
Beasley only played over 70 games five seasons in his career. Three of those were his first three in the league. Since then, he has had trouble staying on a roster and getting burn on those teams.
In an alternate universe where Beasley keeps his head on tighter and doesn’t get injured as much, he’s probably someone who is looked at as a good selection for the second pick. The career he’s had is only good enough to be selected 20th, which is still solid considering the injury luck he had.