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“Yeah, definitely,” Beasley said as to whether Hunter has added confidence in him. “He understands how hard I work, he understands how much I want to be great and how much I want my team to be great. He believes in me. “Even if I try to get my teammates involved, he’s so big on me shooting and not passing up shots so that’s definitely going to help me in the long run,” Beasley explained. “Especially going into next season. That’s what our team needs is for me to score the ball for us to even have a chance to win.” HoopsWorld

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

As Michael Beasley slammed a chicken tenders basket at his locker about 90 minutes before his Phoenix Suns were to face the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, he seemed more pleased with the savory french fries than digging up the past yet again. “These fries are good, man,” Beasley said between shoveling handfuls of the greasy goodness into his mouth. NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

“That’s the plan,” said Beasley, who turned 24 earlier this month and remains a 6-foot-10, 235-pound and heavily tattooed enigma. “Hey, I definitely want the fans to support me and understand me, but I realize with my past, it’s a long shot.” NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

On Jan. 2, just two months into the season and three weeks after veteran NBA writer Shaun Powell tweeted that a Suns source deemed Beasley “toxic,” a headline in the USA Today screamed: “Michael Beasley has bottomed out in Phoenix.” Already? Was it true? “Tomato, to-mah-to, I guess,” Beasley said. “It really don’t matter. Only thing you can do is look forward to the future. I realize what I’m doing — career-low in every category. But it’s time to, like I said, I’m going to go hard. I feel like if I play hard, I have great games, not even great games, good games. I haven’t had a good game yet, haven’t had a great game in a while. If I play hard I have good games, we win most of the time.” NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

Bill Ingram: Goran Dragic tells HOOPWORLD that the coaching change has already made a huge difference for Michael Beasley. Night and day difference. Twitter @TheRocketGuy

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic 

Source with a team interested in Rudy Gay: the Gay-for-Jared Dudley/Michael Beasley deal was leaked in order to generate more offers from around the league. The response when other GMs heard about the offer was, "Hey, we can do better than that." The Grizzlies, if they are going to move Gay, want a young SF on a smaller contract and a draft pick. Sulia

Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Rudy Gay, Michael Beasley, Jared Dudley 

Suns forward Michael Beasley, after missing two of his first free-throw attempts off the side of the rim, walked down the lane, stared up at the iron and shook his head. “I had to scare the gremlins away,” he said. “Those gremlins are always messing with me.” NBA.com

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

What does Michael Beasley have to do to be a good NBA player? Alvin Gentry: It’s all a process with him. There are just a lot of things — some on-court stuff, some off-court stuff. He’s had a great attitude. It’s just one of those situations where he has to continue to work at it, to continue to explore what does he have to do to be successful — not just on the court, but off the court. He’ll continue to work at it. He’s had a great attitude. Grantland

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Alvin Gentry 

I think that would surprise fans, only because of the clichés about him. Alvin Gentry: See, if you don’t know him, you would say that. But he’s had a great attitude. And I have to take some of the blame for everything with him. I put a label on him before he even got here — that he was going to be our go-to guy, a guy that’s going to do this and do that. And that’s unfair to him — [saying that] without going through training camp and understanding what he might be for our team. So a bit of all this has to be my responsibility. It was predetermined what he was gonna be before we even hit camp. Grantland

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley, Alvin Gentry 

Michael Dugat: Would Hollinger really trade for Beasley? Loved the deal for Minn when they got Beasley (insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/co… ) Twitter @mdug

Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Rudy Gay, Michael Beasley 

Phoenix is one team that hasn’t been mentioned much in trade speculation, but it’s believed the Suns would be more than willing participants, especially assisting in multi-player deals. They have zero untouchables, and word is, they plan to see what they might be able to get for the likes of forwards Jared Dudley and Michael Beasley, and even center Marcin Gortat. FOXSports Ohio

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Michael Beasley, Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley 

"I ain't got no choice but to believe in the coach," Beasley said. "If you don't believe in the coach, then we're never going to have a winning system or atmosphere. Whatever Coach says, that's what I'm going to do, even if I have to sit on the bench with a bag over my head." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

"Maybe it's my fault," Beasley said. "I'm going to watch film like I've been doing. I'm going to evaluate and critique myself and go from there. There ain't nothing I can do but look forward and up. I'm already at the bottom so there really isn't too many places I can look. I'm just ready for 2012 to be over, dating back to even last season. I'm going to keep coming into this game optimistic. I put enough hours in and take enough jump shots. I'm in the gym pretty much longer than anybody in the NBA. I'm going to stay optimistic and trust my game." USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

If Beasley looked in the mirror after not playing in Oklahoma City, he could not even see himself. Visiting with childhood friend Kevin Durant's friends and family inside Chesapeake Energy Arena, Beasley wore a ski mask as he assured, "I'm smiling," when asked about not playing. USA Today Sports

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

Ben Golliver: Favorite Michael Beasley memory: His PR rep quitting after he sued AAU coach and referring me to "Shooter" for further inquiries. Twitter @blazersedge

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

In terms of those 108 offseason signees who become trade-eligible Saturday, at least three names are coming up repeatedly on the personnel grapevine: Indiana's D.J. Augustin, Phoenix's Michael Beasley and Boston's Courtney Lee. There's a reason for that, though: All three are seriously struggling. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Trade, Michael Beasley, DJ Augustin, Courtney Lee 

The truly problematic part, according to a person close to the situation who spoke with USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, is that Beasley is hardly hiding his frustrations with the fact that his role isn't what he thought it would be. Beasley, who has shared his frustrations publicly recently as well, could find himself changing teams for the third time in five seasons if the situation doesn't improve leading up to the Feb. 21 trade deadline. USA Today

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Michael Beasley 

"He's not playing as well as he'd like to, but it's early," Sarver said. "We're working with him. He's working hard, and we still expect to be able to (salvage the situation)." USA Today

Phoenix Suns, Trade, Michael Beasley 

Through 22 games, Beasley is averaging 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, both career lows. However despite the lack of production early in the season, Suns assistant coach Dan Majerle is not ready to give up on the talented forward. "We are going to keep working with 'Beas' as much as possible. I love the kid. He wants to play well," Majerle said. "He has just got to figure out in his own mind how to do that and when to do that and take advantage of his skills." Arizona's Sports Page

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley 

Shaun Powell: Suns source: Michael Beasley is "toxic," team in tailspin, could lead to major shakeup. Twitter @Powell2daPeople

Phoenix Suns, Michael Beasley