Los Angeles Lakers declined Malik Beasley a $16.5 million team option in order to have greater flexibility before the start of free agency, but there is always a potential he might negotiate a deal that is much more reasonable. Six teams are reportedly interested in Beasley’s services, so there appears to be some sort of rivalry there.
In particular, the ‘Mavs’ showed interest despite “The Mutant” Beasley’s exclusion from Darvin Hams’s rotation for the postseason. Although playing in 11 postseason games, he only averaged 8.3 minutes per contest and carried on with a lot of difficulty.
Malik Beasley to Mav rumors
The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers allegedly wanted to sign and trade for shooter Malik Beasley this offseason. Beasley ultimately made the decision to agree to a one-year, $2.7 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks. “Lakers free agent guard Malik Beasley has drawn interest from the Sixers, Suns, Raptors, Mavericks, Bucks, and Warriors”, association insiders told HoopsHype.
Report: Mavericks considered sign-and-trade with Lakers for Malik Beasley https://t.co/nLY9VldD5M
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 7, 2023
Beasley was acquired by the Lakers in a trade involving Russell Westbrook last year. In 26 recurring-season contests with Los Angeles, including 14 starts, he scored 11.1 points, grabbed 3.3 rebounds, and shot 35.3% from beyond the arc. Beasley, who stands at 6-foot-4, would be a difficult sell as a remedy for a Dallas squad that lacked perimeter size last season.
Although he has some catch-and-shoot ability, his defense is still lacking, and he rarely attacks the paint. We’ll make the case that Mavs still need more dynamic, playable players who are closer to 6-foot-8 in height.
Malik Beasley’s part-time starting role for the Lakers
Beasley was a part of the three-team transaction that brought D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Utah Jazz. Even though he wasn’t the deal’s marquee name, Beasley was speculated to make a difference. “The Mutant”, a swingman in his seventh season from Florida State, spent the majority of this season serving as Utah’s sixth man.
He has made a significant contribution in 55 games with 13 starts, pulling down 3.6 rebounds and scoring 13.4 points on average. Beasley has demonstrated that, given the chance, he can light it up. He was acquired by the Minnesota Timberwolves from the Denver Nuggets in the middle of the 2019–20 campaign, and in the 14 games he played, he scored 20.7 points on average.
In 37 appearances during the 2020–21 season, he averaged 19.6 points as a follow-up. Malik Beasley, a seasoned shooting guard, once thought he could significantly improve the Los Angeles Lakers on both sides of the court.
Where do you see Malik going next? Comment below!
