Even though the Milwaukee Bucks didn’t make it far in the playoffs, Malik Beasley still proved his worth in the one season he was signed up for. Turns out, the team might lose him in the offseason as the Orlando Magic are projected to pursue the shooting guard.
Beasley first entered the NBA as the Denver Nuggets’ 16th overall pick in the 2016 Draft. Although he spent his first two years there playing limited minutes, the shooting guard got to play more during the 2018-19 season and showed improvement all across the board.
In 2020, Beasley was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and performed well with averages of 15.1 points on 38 percent shooting from deep, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists during his almost three seasons playing there. From there, he played short stints with the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers until he was signed to a one-year deal by Milwaukee for the 2023-24 campaign.
Over the course of 79 games, 77 of which he played as the starting shooting guard, Beasley notched 11.3 points 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He also connected 41 percent of his three-pointers, 44 percent from the field, and 71 percent from the free throw line.
Milwaukee Bucks Projected To Lose Malik Beasley To The Orlando Magic
Like any other franchise, the Bucks’ front office will have to assess how to build a playoff-worthy roster around All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for next season. Unfortunately, they may have to let Beasley walk away in free agency and let the Orlando Magic swoop in to get him, as detailed in an article by Dalton Sell for Behind The Buck Pass.
“Of those three teams, the Orlando Magic might be the likeliest suitor. Not only are they set to have a bunch of spending money this off-season, but they have a dire need for more perimeter shooting on their roster. Beasley, who just shot a career best 41.3 percent from deep this past season, could help patch that hole on their roster, giving them an excellent complementary 3-point shooter.
Beasley could instantly be a crucial cog for the Magic, serving as a floor-spacer for Paolo Banchero, their franchise star. That’s a role Beasley is quite familiar with, having done the same exact thing for Giannis Antetokounmpo this season and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers the year prior,” Sell wrote.
Last season, Milwaukee signed Beasley to a one-year $2.7 million deal. It’s certain that the former Denver Nuggets rookie will demand a larger bag for next season, something that the Bucks might not be ready to give.
It remains to be seen whether Beasley stays in Milwaukee or becomes a free agent. In any case, it’s going to be an interesting couple of months for both parties in preparation for next season.
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