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Minnesota Timberwolves: Tracking new players’ progress part 1

By Andrew Ites

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 12: D'Angelo Russell #0 high fives Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on February 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 115-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 12: D'Angelo Russell #0 high fives Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at Target Center on February 12, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Hornets defeated the Timberwolves 115-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Timberwolves
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 23: Malik Beasley #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves waves to the crowd after losing to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center on February 23, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley has exceeded expectations more than any player that Gersson Rosas acquired at the trade deadline.

The 23-year-old shooting guard is averaging 20.3 points per game in a Wolves uniform after putting up a career-high 11.3 points per game last season in Denver.

Beasley’s 3-point shot has hit the ground running as he’s jacking up 9.4 per game while hitting 41.2 percent from deep. He could certainly improve on his drive game as he’s making just 46.4 percent of his 7.7 2-point attempts per game, but the former Seminole’s deadly outside shooting has opened up the Wolves’ offense.

Beasley has also provided a much-needed emotional edge to a team that wasn’t playing with much spirit in the games preceding the trade deadline.

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Malik feels like he never got the chance to fully showcase his talent in Denver, and he’s relishing the chance to be one of the go-to guys in Minnesota’s offense.

The biggest question regarding Beasley is how much he’s going to cost this summer as he hits restricted free agency. Luckily there isn’t a ton of cap space around the league, and the Wolves have the ability to match any offer sheet that Malik would receive. But all it takes is one big offer to potentially screw up Minnesota’s future plans for Beasley.

Malik has shown that he can be a dynamic two-guard next to Russell in a backcourt that has the potential to explode on any given night. The Wolves are just hoping this promising stretch of play hasn’t convinced another team to give him $20 million per year.

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