Heat rookie F Beasley fined $50,000

Sep 18, 2008 - 11:29 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Miami Heat rookie forward Michael Beasley was fined $50,000 for his involvement in an incident at the NBA's Rookie Transition Program earlier this month and his subsequent failure to cooperate with a league investigation of the matter.

Beasley was involved in the same incident for which Heat guard Mario Chalmers and Memphis Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur - former teammates on the national champion Kansas Jayhawks - were previously punished.

"We have been informed that Michael Beasley has been fined for his involvement in an incident at this summer's Rookie Transition Program," Miami team president Pat Riley said. "While we are disappointed with Michael's involvement, we are pleased that he chose to come forward and stand with his teammate and accept the consequences of his actions.

"We are hopeful that both Michael and Mario have learned from this experience and we will have no further comment on the subject."

Fined $20,000 and kicked out of the program, Chalmers and Arthur were found with two women in a room, where there was a strong scent of marijuana. No drug paraphernalia was found but the presence of guests violated the program's policy. The pair apologized but denied using marijuana.

Details of Beasley's role in the incident have not been released.

The second overall pick in June's draft, Beasley authored one of the most impressive freshman seasons in NCAA history for Kansas State, averaging 26.2 points and 12.4 rebounds.

Beasley and Chalmers will join a healthy Dwyane Wade with the Heat (15-67), who finished with the NBA's worst record last season.