Should Beasley continue getting PT at PF?

[mandurugo]

This thread wasn't about Beasley playing full time 4 and Love at 5. The question is wether wolves should continue to convert him into a true SF or should they let him be himself- a tweener or combo forward playing both positions.

If you let him be himself then he is a PF. (Yes, I know he claimed he was a SF when he was traded to the wolves. I just don't believe it.)

[shangrila]

Once he tightens up his handles he'll be a better SF. He just looks better now at PF because he has such a ridiculous speed advantage vs other PFs.

[mandurugo]

Once he tightens up his handles he'll be a better SF. He just looks better now at PF because he has such a ridiculous speed advantage vs other PFs.

Well, that's just it. He's ready to exploit a mismatch right now at PF and I think his D will be better there. Since he's not scoring in the low post much he isn't taking advantage of his size mismatch at SF, he's still scoring off of his speed and jump shot. If he can improve his handle he'll be able to better exploit that at SF, but he has further to go to get his full offensive advantage and a lot further to go on defense. I can see on paper why some people say that he will have his highest potential at SF, but it just seems like his game doesn't support that idea.

These things always remind of Ben Wallace. When he first came into the league teams looked at his size and his athleticism and said "whoa... if he can just improve his handle and his jump shot he'll be an awesome shooting guard". He almost washed out of the league because that's where teams wanted to play him. Eventually a team gave him a chance at PF and he became the rebounding/defensive nightmare we all know and love, but he just as easily could have ended up a forgotten player in the league. Now, certainly I'm not saying Beasley has no chance to play SF, but I am unconvinced it's his best position. Time will tell I guess.

[shangrila]

Well, I think it's his best long term position. At small forward he doesn't give up as much defensively as he does at PF. He's got adequate quickness, for example, instead of being undersized.