Is Malik Beasley A Good Trade Target For The Cavaliers?

The NBA trade deadline is just over three weeks away, and soon the Cleveland Cavaliers will be on the clock when it comes to finding a deal that will allow them to take the next step.

They need a reliable starting-quality two-way wing, as well as efficient scoring off the bench, and they may be able to address at least one of those needs.

One of the latest trade rumors involving them has them participating in a three-team deal that would land them 6-foot-4 guard Malik Beasley, who is a member of the Utah Jazz.

“[Cavaliers] have weighed pursuing a three-way trade scenario that would land Atlanta’s John Collins with the Jazz and bring Utah’s Malik Beasley to Cleveland.” (via @TheSteinLine)

Source: https://t.co/jgb4eNhGZ4 pic.twitter.com/nuWI9C8rni

— The Trade Deadline (@_TradeDeadline) January 16, 2023

Beasley has shown some potential over the last couple of years, but is he the right man to help give Cleveland’s bench some much-needed pop?

Beasley Hasn’t Built Upon What He Recently Showed

The 19th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Beasley started his career very slowly, as he didn’t even average four points a game in his first two seasons.

But he improved to 11.3 points per game in the 2018-19 campaign while shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range on 5.0 attempts a contest, and suddenly it looked like he could develop into a key contributor on a good team.

The following year, the Denver Nuggets traded Beasley to the Minnesota Timberwolves, giving him an opportunity to play on a young, up-and-coming team that didn’t have big expectations.

In 14 games with Minnesota, he put up 20.7 points a game, and in the 2020-21 season, he followed that up with a 19.6 points per game average.

But so far this season, Beasley is shooting just 39.9 percent overall and 35.5 percent from downtown.

The Cavs need an instant offense guy off the bench who is an efficient scorer, and unfortunately, it looks like Beasley doesn’t fit that description right now.

In addition, he has had trouble staying healthy over the last few years, so he may not even be reliable enough for a Cavs team that expects to contend for the NBA championship.

Perhaps Cleveland should pass on Beasley and focus on someone else to bolster its bench.