http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8131044/sources-michael-beasley-verbally-commits-three-year-18-million-deal-phoenix-suns
Sources: Michael Beasley, Suns agree
The Phoenix Suns have reached a verbal commitment with free-agent forward Michael Beasley on a three-year deal worth $18 million, according to sources familiar with the deal.
Beasley can't actually sign until July 11, when a leaguewide moratorium on new business is lifted.
Beasley
chose the Suns from a group of five suitors after visiting with club
officials on Wednesday, while Phoenix also was agreeing to send Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers in a sign-and-trade deal.
Beasley
flew to Phoenix to meet with the Suns on Wednesday, the second time the
two parties met. The Suns flew to Los Angeles to meet Beasley earlier
this week.
While Beasley has been dogged by bouts of immaturity
throughout his four-year career, the Suns are not scared off by his
reputation and instead are fond of him as a player and a person, sources
told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard.
Suns general manager Lance Blanks has a history of working
with troubled players dating back to his time as an executive with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Blanks was instrumental in bringing volatile guard Delonte West to the Cavs and continues to have a strong relationship with him.
In
addition to adding Beasley and working out a sign-and-trade deal with
the Lakers for Nash, the Suns offered New Orleans shooting guard Eric Gordon a maximum $58 million over four years.
While
some sources say New Orleans will match the offer for Gordon, others
say Gordon's public statements about preferring Phoenix to the Hornets
potentially could lead to discussions on a sign-and-trade deal between
the clubs.