FanPost

Beasley vs. Anthony


As we watch the inevitable end to the Carmelo Anthony saga, it may be dismaying to see an "alpha" player attempt to assemble SuperFriends IV on a team that isn't the Wolves. But while the Nets trade away (almost) all of their young assets, and potentially spend hundreds of millions of dollars in salary to become perhaps one of the top dozen or so teams in the NBA, it may provide some comfort to note that the Wolves already have a similar, younger, cheaper player in Michael Beasley.

Beasley is almost 4 1/2 years younger, an inch taller, and five pounds heavier than Anthony. Beasley is on the books to make the same amount of money over this year and the next two years that Anthony will make each year if/when he signs his 3-year, $65 million extension.Even if/when Beasley signs an extension with the Wolves, it will likely be for as little as half as much money per year as what Anthony will be paid.

Other than salaries, age, and (of course) public perception, there isn't a huge statistical difference in the current season's output. Beasley has a better FG% and much better 3-ptFG%, while Anthony makes twice as many free throws per game.

Anthony pulls down a couple more defensive rebounds per game than Beasley, but I'm guessing Anthony's rebounding numbers would also diminish a bit if he were playing with Kevin Love. Anthony has better assist numbers, but considering the relative quality of each player's teammates, it may again be a "chicken and egg" comparison.

So instead of bemoaning the Wolves lack of involvement in a so-called "alpha" player's destruction of for sure the Nuggets and perhaps the Nets, appreciate that we have a younger, much less expensive substitute, who to my knowledge has never forbidden anyone from snitching.