Report: Michael Beasley leaving Grizzlies camp to sign with Shanghai Sharks

Michael Beasley is leaving his training camp tryout with the Memphis Grizzlies to sign with the Chinese Basketball Association, according to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

The No. 2 overall pick in 2008 had been looking to secure a job as the Grizzlies' backup power forward, but will instead join the Shanghai Sharks. The Sharks are owned by former NBA All-Star Yao Ming, who also acts as the team president.

Beasley will join former NBA player Delonte West as they hope to push the Sharks from fringe playoff team to CBA title contender.

It's a disappointing turn for fans who were hoping the oft-entertaining, but equally frustrating, Supercool Beas would get another shot in the NBA. Beasley spent last season with the Miami Heat, starting off strong but fading as the season went on. As a result, Beasley was unable to secure a guaranteed contract this offseason, despite interest from a few teams.

In Memphis, Beasley could have pushed upstart Jon Leuer for time at power forward. Leuer played 17 minutes in the team's preseason opener, rookie Jarnell Stokes played 12, and Beasley received a DNP-Illness. The Grizzlies had little incentive to guarantee Beasley's contract until they determined he would make the team, and his camp obviously felt it more prudent to sign in China.

While financial terms are not yet known, Beasley could stand to earn more with Shanghai than he would have stateside, where the minimum contract for his level of experience is $1.15 million. The Chinese season ends early enough that if Beasley impresses, he could conceivably rejoin an NBA team for the stretch run with a team in need of some scoring off the bench.

In 409 games over six NBA seasons, Beasley has averaged 13.2 points and 4.9 rebounds with a league-average 15.1 player efficiency rating. He will be missed.