Report: Grizzlies sign Michael Beasley to non-guaranteed deal

Michael Beasley is going to have to play his way onto an NBA team for the 2014-15 season.

After working out for the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers this summer, the Memphis Grizzlies have surprisingly swooped in to land the talented but mercurial "Supercool Beas". Beasley has been signed to a non-guaranteed contract, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, meaning he can be cut at any point with no cost to the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are making a bet that their strong organizational culture is a match for Beasley, who is still just 25 years old and now six years removed from being the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. To be thorough, the Grizzlies reportedly worked Beasley out for "several days."

Beasley is said to have opted for the Grizzlies offer due to his chances of making the roster as a backup power forward, where Memphis has just Jon Leuer and rookie Jarnell Stokes behind starter Zach Randolph.

It's an interesting roll of the dice for Memphis, albeit one with little financial downside. Beasley showed promise as a small-ball power forward with the Miami Heat, and his per-minute scoring and rebounding numbers have always been acceptable. It's the defensive miscues and apathy, and the reported off-court issues, that have pushed Beasley to the very fringes of the NBA's free agent bin. 

Memphis has a strong culture with several no-nonsense leaders, including Tony Allen, who doesn't seem to suffer fools lightly. One would think if the Heat's locker room couldn't get the most out of Beasley nobody's will. But perhaps it's the tough love of The Grindhouse that Beasley's been missing all along.