Minnesota Timberwolves: What is Malik Beasley’s role moving forward?

What will Malik Beasley’s role be with the Minnesota Timberwolves next year?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and a shortened NBA season, many Minnesota Timberwolves fans only got a glimpse of the new additions that were acquired in early February.

Perhaps the most impressive addition was shooting guard Malik Beasley. Now, many are wondering what his role is come the start of next season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: What is Malik Beasley’s role moving forward?

When Beasley came to the Wolves from the Denver Nuggets, his role immediately grew. The more minutes he received, the more you could see how talented he really is.

In the 14 games Beasley played with Minnesota, he averaged over 20 points per game — nine more than his best season with Denver. While it’s a small sample size, it’s obvious that Beasley has the talent to potentially be a third-wheel behind Karl-Anthony Towns and D’Angelo Russell.

Beasley had a good mix of 3-point and 2-point field goal attempts, but it seems like he could be particularly useful behind the arc when the team needs a clutch bucket. He was especially dangerous in transition.

Forbes’s Morten Jensen believes Beasley will still use the 3-point shot plenty, and mainly because it will be an even bigger part of the team’s offense:

"For Beasley, his three-point shooting has gone from being a complimentary piece to his primary offensive weapon, and defenders are now playing him for the jumper, which opens up interesting opportunities for his future."

With a more important role, he will be used more in 3-point opportunities.

The team might benefit from having Beasley play shooting guard and getting open threes from off-ball screens. He might also get open looks from having Russell or Jordan McLaughlin drive to the hoop and kick it out.

Jensen also noticed that he didn’t shoot from mid-range as much when he started playing in Minnesota, which of course is a function of the Wolves’ offense.

"The 23-year-old not only displayed a tremendously dynamic outside shot after the trade, but also cut down on his mid-range attempts and got to the rim at a much higher rate than in Denver."

This improved inside game could be used if he runs the point with Towns in the pick-and-roll. Beasley has shown that can be efficient inside the paint, too, and he gives the Wolves another option to pair with Towns.

Will Beasley be primarily used as a spot-up shooter and a primary option in transition and the secondary fastbreak? Or will he begin to handle the ball more in the pick-and-roll and in the halfcourt offense as a whole?

Only time will tell, but it’s clear that Beasley will be the team’s third scoring option come the start of the 2020-21 season.