Michael Beasley

This is the second in a series of profiles focusing on this year's free-agent class. Michael Beasley, small forward Most recent team: Minnesota Timberwolves Type of free agent: Restricted Positives: Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak suggested in an interview last week that the team's most immediate needs involve adding a power forward and a small forward. It's not hard to read between the lines that Kupchak could be anticipating trading Pau Gasol while letting power forward Troy Murphy and small forward Matt Barnes walk.

The Lakers finished the Grammy road trip with two wins in four tries, surviving in Charlotte and a solid victory in Brooklyn. The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat were too much to deal with, but the Lakers finished their extended road trip with a 4-3 record. With the All-Star Game this weekend, the Lakers only have two on the schedule. The playoffs are still in range, but the Lakers simply need to win and win often. Overall, the team is still five losses below the cumulative predictions for weeks 1-15 . Tuesday vs. Phoenix Suns The biggest letdown on the seven-game road trip was in Phoenix on Jan. 30. The Lakers completely fell apart in the fourth quarter, giving up 29 points while scoring just 13 in a 92-86 defeat.

Reporting from New Orleans -- The Lakers are still trying to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley before the Thursday trade deadline. A person familiar with the situation confirmed they were close to a deal for Beasley after trying to involve Portland as a third team. "They're pushing for it," said the source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. The second pick in the 2008 draft, Beasley is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in the last year of his contract.

Suns 92 - Lakers 86 (end of regulation) The Lakers (20-26) lost a game they needed to win, falling to the Suns (16-30) in Phoenix with a fourth-quarter collapse. Where the lead was once 13, the Lakers were stuck on 78 points for almost four-full minutes.  The Suns had closed within five when Dwight Howard re-aggravated his injured right shoulder, clearly in a significant amount of pain Howard would not return and the Lakers looked frazzled, especially defensively. Michael Beasley had a huge night with 27 points on 12-20 shooting, along with five steals.  Beasley's lay-up under pressure with 42.5 seconds left proved to be the game winner.

Michael Beasley said that an off-season stay in a rehabilitation facility was his "lowest hour," denied that he has a substance-abuse problem and apologized Friday to the Miami Heat organization. Beasley would not reveal any details of the treatment he received in Houston, other than acknowledging that he became "pretty upset" upon learning his stay would be considerably longer than first planned. That anger, he said, sparked a wave of troubling messages posted on his now-closed Twitter feed.

Miami 99, at Orlando 98: Michael Beasley dunked a missed shot by Dwyane Wade with 1.6 seconds remaining to lift the Heat over the Magic. at Portland 93, New Jersey 83: The Nets lost their 15th straight game to start the season, two shy of the NBA record. at New Orleans 102, Milwaukee 99 (OT): David West had 27 points and 10 rebounds and the Hornets won in overtime. New Orleans' Darren Collison scored 18 points. at Phoenix 126, Memphis 111: Amare Stoudemire scored 18 of his 28 points in the third quarter for the Suns.

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Michael Beasley stepped off the plane to begin his new life at Kansas State last summer carrying nothing but his cellphone and a charger. "He had no extra clothes, no bag, no anything. His charger was stuffed in his pocket with the cord hanging out," said his mother, Fatima Smith. "But they were so happy to see him, they didn't care if he came out here with his boxers on."

CLIPPERS TONIGHT AT MINNESOTA When: 5 p.m. Where: Target Center. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 980. Records: Clippers 20-35. Timberwolves 13-42. Record vs. Timberwolves: 2-1. Update: The Clippers were trying to mend their physical and mental woes before the All-Star break, canceling a scheduled practice in Minneapolis on Tuesday. They are 4-21 on the road this season and 1-6 on this grueling two-week trip.

The Lakers can forget about trying to get Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. The Lakers won't get him before Thursday's trade deadline at noon PDT. Nor will they get him during the free agency signing period in July. ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard first reported that Howard has waived his early termination option and will stay with the Magic through the 2012-13 season.  That has an instant trickle effect on the Lakers' front-office dealings. One, it's safe to say Lakers center Andrew Bynum will remain a Laker.

Suns 92 - Lakers 86 (end of regulation) The Lakers (20-26) lost a game they needed to win, falling to the Suns (16-30) in Phoenix with a fourth-quarter collapse. Where the lead was once 13, the Lakers were stuck on 78 points for almost four-full minutes.  The Suns had closed within five when Dwight Howard re-aggravated his injured right shoulder, clearly in a significant amount of pain Howard would not return and the Lakers looked frazzled, especially defensively. Michael Beasley had a huge night with 27 points on 12-20 shooting, along with five steals.  Beasley's lay-up under pressure with 42.5 seconds left proved to be the game winner.

In an effort to bolster ticket sales for the Phoenix Suns (7-9), the brain trust behind the team's sales department has come up with a risky sales promotion for a game next week: “ Good Times Guaranteed, or Your Money Back .” You read that correctly. If you buy a ticket for the Suns' matchup Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks (7-9) at U.S. Airways Center, and you don't have said “good times,” the organization will refund the purchase price of the ticket. The offer doesn't exactly define "good times.

This is the second in a series of profiles focusing on this year's free-agent class. Michael Beasley, small forward Most recent team: Minnesota Timberwolves Type of free agent: Restricted Positives: Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak suggested in an interview last week that the team's most immediate needs involve adding a power forward and a small forward. It's not hard to read between the lines that Kupchak could be anticipating trading Pau Gasol while letting power forward Troy Murphy and small forward Matt Barnes walk.

The Lakers can forget about trying to get Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. The Lakers won't get him before Thursday's trade deadline at noon PDT. Nor will they get him during the free agency signing period in July. ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard first reported that Howard has waived his early termination option and will stay with the Magic through the 2012-13 season.  That has an instant trickle effect on the Lakers' front-office dealings. One, it's safe to say Lakers center Andrew Bynum will remain a Laker.

Reporting from New Orleans — Nothing comes easy on the road for the Lakers. Not even a game against the worst team in the Western Conference. Somewhere amid the din of who was coming and going on the Lakers, there was a three-hour window for another 17-point deficit, followed by another overtime victory. Kobe Bryant had 33 points, Andrew Bynum had 25 and the Lakers rallied to beat the New Orleans Hornets, 107-101, Wednesday at New Orleans Arena. PHOTOS: Lakers vs. Hornets Even in victory, there was a breeze of uncertainty in the locker room as the Lakers crept closer to the trade deadline Thursday at noon.

Reporting from New Orleans -- The Lakers are still trying to acquire Minnesota Timberwolves forward Michael Beasley before the Thursday trade deadline. A person familiar with the situation confirmed they were close to a deal for Beasley after trying to involve Portland as a third team. "They're pushing for it," said the source, who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly. The second pick in the 2008 draft, Beasley is averaging 11.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in the last year of his contract.

Among the highlights of a conversation with L.A. Times NBA beat writer Mike Bresnahan about the Lakers' 97-94 victory Sunday over the Boston Celtics and what the front office might do before the trade deadline: Bresnahan has reported that the Lakers don't plan to trade Pau Gasolunless it is for a young guard. He reported in The Times Monday morning that the Lakers had declined dealing him to Boston for Rajon Rondo. Bresnahan believes Gasol will remain in a Laker uniform through the season.

Among the highlights of a conversation with L.A. Times NBA beat writer Mike Bresnahan about the Lakers' 97-94 victory Sunday over the Boston Celtics and what the front office might do before the trade deadline: Bresnahan has reported that the Lakers don't plan to trade Pau Gasolunless it is for a young guard. He reported in The Times Monday morning that the Lakers had declined dealing him to Boston for Rajon Rondo. Bresnahan believes Gasol will remain in a Laker uniform through the season.

Looking ahead ORLANDO AT BOSTON 5 p.m. Friday, I hope; ESPN As Keith Jackson used to note weekly, these are two teams that . . . don't like each other very much. If this feature used to be the Lakers Game of the Week, it's not hard to find a glamour matchup a week. The East now has four or five elite teams by itself, with Cleveland coming off back-to-back wins in Orlando and Miami, and Atlanta winning in Boston. Nor is the West last season's Lakers lake, as the Nuggets just suggested pointedly.

The Lakers and Boston Celtics hate each other, an animosity that extends into the front offices of the two teams. ... Not really. The teams talked last week about a trade for Celtics guard Rajon Rondo , though nothing was close to accomplished and discussions dried up. The Lakers are unwilling to trade Pau Gasol for Rondo, making a deal with Boston unlikely before the trade deadline Thursday. "Unless they give up Gasol, they're not going to get a top-level point guard," said a person familiar with the situation but not authorized to discuss it publicly.

1. Speedy and playmaking point guard. Here's a recipe. Add Derek Fisher's declining speed, sprinkle in inconsistent shooting from both Fisher and Steve Blake and mix in the backcourt's inconsistent playmaking. What comes out hardly looks pretty. The Lakers, according to Hoopstats.com , feature the league's least efficient point-guard tandem. Break it down further: The Lakers' backcourt ranks last in points per game (12.1), 27th in assists (6.1) and 23rd in shooting percentage (40%)