The Phoenix Suns currently sit at 7-15, which is the second-worst record in the entire Western Conference. The teams big offseason acquisition, Michael Beasley, has been of little help thus far.

Playing for his third team (Heat, Timberwolves) in five years, the former #2 overall pick of the 2008 NBA Draft has found life in the NBA quite difficult.

Beasley signed a three-year, $18 million dollar deal with the Suns this offseason, with the hopes of perhaps becoming the team’s number one option on offense. With the Steve Nash era officially over, the franchise was looking for a fresh face to push as its guy for the future.

Since arriving, Michael has been more of a detriment than an asset.

On the season, Beasley is averaging 11.4 points on 38% shooting, as well as 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists a game. All of those numbers come at 27 minutes of action a night, which is four minutes more of playing time than he had last season in Minnesota, where he put up stronger numbers (11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 45% shooting).

As a starter, those numbers won’t suffice, especially considering the struggles of the team and the pressure on him to elevate his game to take the franchise to the next level.

In fact, the Suns actually perform better when he’s not playing. The teams offensive rating is 100.1 when Beasley is on the court and 101.5 when he’s riding the pine. The team’s defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) is 96.2 when he’s on the bench and 114.9 when he’s on the court.

His play has been so poor, that head coach Alvin Gentry has officially moved him to the second-unit, with hopes that playing against opposing backups could pay dividends towards improving his overall play.

In the Suns 98-90 loss this past Sunday against the Orlando Magic, Beasley played just 15 minutes and put up three points (all of which came from the charity stripe). He was a complete non-factor in a game against a far lesser opponent (if at all possible).

Michael spoke out before Thursdays game against the Dallas Mavericks and talked about his struggles shooting the ball and the lack of success for this team.

“I’m frustrated with everything. I’m frustrated with my production, with the fact that our record is the way it is. My role is definitely going to be what I make it.

“I don’t know what it is. I come in every game optimistic about my play and my shots. It’s just not good right now and it’s not what anybody’s doing. It’s all me. I’m getting extra shots. I’m getting extra shots on top of extra shots. I’ve just got to be patient. Let the game come to me. Just sort of ride it out.

“Of course I’m frustrated because I visualize myself as something I’m not right now. Not to say I can’t be. As of right now, I’m not playing as well as I want to play or can play or as well as the team needs. Yeah, I’m frustrated but like I said just got to continue to do what I’m doing, work hard and ride it out.” (Coro)

Now to blame all of the Suns problems on one player would be silly. Phoenix gives up 103.1 points per game to their opposition, which is third worst in the league, just behind the Rockets and Bobcats. They also allow opponents to shoot 47.1% from the field, which is second from the bottom. Beasley can’t guard all five positions at a time, so it’s clear that a lot has to change for the Suns to rise again in the West.

With that being said, a lot more was to be expected out of Michael when he joined the team this summer. His two previous stints with Miami and the Wolves were far from impressive, so joining a high-octane offense like the one the Suns have where he could have the ball most of the time and take as many shots as he wants (11.6 to be exact, leads the team) would be the perfect situation for him.

Well, it’s clearly not.

From joking around during games, to hanging his head during rough stretches, Beasley doesn’t have the attitude nor the talent to be a starter in the NBA. As a reserve, perhaps he  could thrive in a smaller role.

Would he accept that though?

There’s a reason why he hasn’t been able to keep a job in this league, going from team to team without ever really cementing a long-term future with a franchise.

With his role on the Suns decreasing more and more by the game, it’s completely plausible that management could look to move him before the trade deadline in February.

That’s probably for the best.

Michael Beasley and the Phoenix Suns are not a good mix.

The more I look at things, it’s hard to imagine many teams Beasley could fit well with at the moment.

Christopher Walder is the Lead Editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-US PRESSWIRE

2011-12 Record: 33-33, third place in Pacific Division, 10th in Western Conference

2012 NBA Draft: PG Kendall Marshall (North Carolina, 13th overall)

Offseason Additions: G Goran Dragic (4 years, $30 million), G Wes Johnson (acquired from Minnesota Timberwolves), F Michael Beasley (3 years, $18 million), F P.J Tucker (2 years), F Luis Scola (amnesty claim), C Jermaine O’Neal (1 year)

Offseason Losses: G Steve Nash (sign-and-trade with Los Angeles Lakers), G Jerome Dyson (waived), G Aaron Brooks (signed with Sacramento Kings), F Josh Childress (amnestied, signed with Brooklyn Nets), F Grant Hill (signed with Los Angeles Clippers), F Hakim Warrick (traded to New Orleans Hornets), C Robin Lopez (sign-and-trade with New Orleans Hornets), C Brad Miller (waived),

Re-signed: G Shannon Brown (2 years, $6 million)

Projected Starting Line-up: PG Goran Dragic, SG Jared Dudley, SF Michael Beasley, PF Luis Scola, C Marcin Gortat

OFFSEASON GRADE: B

There is a dawning of a new era on the horizon for this Phoenix Suns franchise.

Excuse me for all of the “Sun” analogies, but it’s absolutely true.

For the first time in what seems like an eternity (actually, it’s just been 8 years), 2x MVP Steve Nash will not be a member of the Suns roster opening night. He is now the starting point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers after a sign-and-trade that had the famous Canadian packing his bags for Hollywood back in July.

To replace Nash, Phoenix signed former Rockets point guard Goran Dragic to a 4-year, $30 million dollar deal. Dragic actually began his career as a Sun in 2008 before being traded prior to the deadline in a deal for Aaron Brooks on February 24, 2011.

Goran had his best year in the NBA last season for Houston, averaging 11.7 points, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals a game. He also filled in quite admirably for Kyle Lowry when he was out with a bacterial infection at the end of the season. Dragic started the final 2 months of the year for the Rockets and was named the NBA’s Player of the Week for April 2 – April 8. In the entire month of April, Dragic averaged 18.9 points, 7.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game.

While I do think the price tag of $8.5 million a year was a tad hefty, I do believe that Dragic showed enough last season in Houston to warrant a full-time starting position in the NBA. His overall potential is huge and playing in a up-tempo style offense in Phoenix (even though Nash is gone) could be what takes Goran’s game to the next level and beyond.

The Suns also shored up the point guard position in the NBA Draft by selecting Kendall Marshall out of North Carolina 13th overall. Marshall won the 2012 Bob Cousy award as the top point guard in College Basketball in his sophomore year. He also broke the ACC record for most assists in a season with 311 (9.8 a game). Kendall is as pure a point guard as they come, looking to distribute the basketball to a teammate more so than finding his own shot. He’s got a great mind for the game and should have an immediate impact for this Suns team. With the money Dragic is being paid, Marshall will find himself on the bench to start his career, being Goran’s primary backup.

In one of the more unheralded moves of the 2012 NBA offseason, the Phoenix Suns managed to land Luis Scola after the Houston Rockets amnestied him in hopes of securing more cap room for Dwight Howard. In order to secure the services of Scola, the Suns had to submit a bid of at least $3.3 million a year, and commit $10 million over the next 3 seasons.

Scola is the truest back to the basket power forward the Suns have had since the Amare Stoudemire days. In 66 games last year for Houston, Luis averaged 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. Getting Scola for that kind of money is an absolute steal, as he could easily be considered one of the 10 best power forwards in the game today, in my opinion at least. His toughness and rebounding in the paint will be of great value to a team that finished 20th in the league in that department last season (41.7 rebounds a game).

Michael Beasley, the former #2 overall pick back in 2008, will also find himself donning the Phoenix Suns colours next season after signing a 3-year, $18 million dollar deal.

Playing for his third team in 5 years, Michael has been very much inconsistent in his career and has yet to find a steady permanent home with one organization. After averaging 19.2 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2011, Beasley saw his numbers dip to 11.5 points and 4.4 rebounds a game this past year, all be it in less time. The potential to be a huge NBA star is there, but Beasley will need to show more willingness to improve his game on the court in practices and games, rather than letting his off-the-court shenanigans get the best of him. Regardless of that, at just $6 million a year for 3 years, you can’t go wrong.

The Suns also signed 17 year veteran Jermaine O’Neal to a 1 year deal to add depth to the center position behind Marcin Gortat. Over the past 2 seasons, O’Neal has played a total of 49 games due to injury. Fortunately for him, the Suns training staff has an excellent track record with injured stars, including names like Grant Hill, Michael Redd and Shaquille O’Neal. His numbers will be closely monitored over the course of the season to help avoid further injuries down the road.

If Phoenix fans can learn to accept the fact that Steve Nash isn’t walking through their front door anymore, they will be pleasantly  surprised to see a Suns team that is fully ready to compete in the Western Conference for a bottom-seeded playoff spot.

Neither Dragic nor Marshall will ever come close to replicating the huge success of their MVP predecessor, but collectively they will do enough to keep this team afloat in the Pacific Division.

Obviously losing Nash is a tough pill to swallow, but you can’t argue really with the moves GM Lance Blanks made to help this team move forward into the post-Nash era.

OTHER OFFSEASON RECAPS: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports