The Golden State Warriors had a disappointing 2023-24 NBA season. They barely squeaked into the postseason picture by making the play-in, only to lose to the Sacramento Kings and miss the playoffs for only the third team in the past 12 seasons. While the team will have to decide on Klay Thompson in the offseason, the Warriors have reportedly identified Malik Beasley as a free-agency target as per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.
The Warriors had a sharpshooting wing during the 2022-23 season in Donte DiVincenzo. He left as a free agent and signed with the New York Knicks and the Warriors were unable to replace his production. DiVincenzo just had a career season with the Knicks. It would make sense that the Warriors would have free agency interest in Malik Beasley.
But Iko reports that the Warriors are not alone in registering early interest in Beasley. The Houston Rockets and the Orlando Magic also have a level of interest in pursuing Beasley on the free-agent market. Beasley is coming off a strong season with the Bucks but it’s not clear at this time what the Bucks level of interest in possibly re-signing him would be.
The Warrior’s biggest free agent decision though is going to be what to do with Klay Thompson. The two sides have been unable to agree on a contract extension, and the veteran guard is heading towards unrestricted free agency.
Malik Beasley could be a solid addition to the Warriors roster
While the Warriors, Rockets, and Magic have been identified as teams with an early interest in Malik Beasley, other teams may join the pursuit once the free agency period gets underway. Beasley is coming off a solid season with the Bucks. The No. 19 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Beasley has developed into one of the league’s top role players.
Beasley heading towards potential payday this offseason seems to be exactly what he had in mind when he signed a one-year deal with the Bucks last offseason. He was coming off an inconsistent second half of the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Lakers that saw him ultimately removed from the Lakers starting lineup.
This past season with the Bucks, Beasley started in 77 game of the 79 he played in at a little over 29 minutes per game. He averaged 11.3 points per game, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists with splits of 44.3 percent shooting from the field, 41.3 percent shooting from the three-point line and 71.4 percent shooting from the free throw line.
In the playoffs, Beasley started two of the Buck’s six games during their first-round loss to the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 8.8 points per game, 2.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists with splits of 51.2 percent shooting from the field and 44 percent shooting from the three-point line.
Beasley has become a consistent double-digit scoring threat in the NBA as well as one of the top three-point shooters. He holds a career average of 10.9 points per game. He’s a career 38.5 percent shooting from the three-point line and he participated in the 3-point Contest at All-Star Weekend. He would be a solid addition to the Warriors roster.
