TITLE: Cavaliers Maintain Pursuit of Free-Agent Sharpshooter Malik Beasley
SLUG: cavaliers-maintain-pursuit-of-malik-beasley
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers have renewed discussions about signing free-agent guard Malik Beasley, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.
Beasley, 28, remains unsigned while the NBA completes its review of a gambling investigation. Several reports during the past month indicated he has been cleared of wrongdoing, but the league is conducting additional due diligence before issuing formal approval.
Cleveland’s interest has intensified after Max Strus underwent foot surgery that is expected to sideline him three to four months. Strus led the club in three-point makes last season, leaving the Cavaliers searching for immediate perimeter help.
Beasley is coming off a standout year with Detroit, where he connected on 319 three-pointers—an amount surpassed by only five players in league history. He placed second in Sixth Man of the Year voting while thriving as a high-volume scorer off the bench.
The Cavaliers currently carry the NBA’s largest payroll and sit above the second tax apron, limiting them to offering Beasley only the veteran minimum. New York and several other teams can extend the same contract, meaning Cleveland would need to create roster flexibility to complete a deal.
Whether that happens hinges on the NBA’s final ruling, but the Cavaliers believe Beasley’s combination of volume shooting and efficiency could fortify a wing rotation recently thinned by injury.
Source: Hoops Wire
