The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching, and multiple reports suggest the Celtics remain extremely active searching for deals as they sit just outside the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
The latest trade buzz comes from Jared Weiss of The Athletic, claiming Boston has explored a deal that would send Josh Richardson and Aaron Nesmith or Romeo Langford to Minnesota in exchange for Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley.
Beasley’s numbers are down significantly after a breakout season last year which was cut short by both injuries and a lengthy suspension.
The Timberwolves wing played in every single one of Minnesota’s first 33 games in 2020-21 before serving a 12-game suspension for a felony charge from September of 2020. The charges stemmed from an incident in which Beasley was alleged to have made threats of violence while aiming a rifle at a family on a house tour in his neighborhood.
Beasley ultimately played just four of the final 39 games last season after suffering a hamstring injury upon his return from suspension.
Beasley 33 games before suspension:
- 20.5 PPG
- 45.5 FG%
- 40.6 3P%
Beasley 55 games since suspension:
- 12.0 PPG
- 36.4 FG%
- 34.3 3P%
The Athletic is reporting that Minnesota has shown no interest in Boston’s offer and sought to “maintain flexibility” in keeping Beasley on the roster. Beasley is in the second year of a four-year contract worth $60 million which he signed in November of 2020, with a team option in the final year of the deal.
Boston has been said to be looking to add shooting around Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, which Beasley would theoretically provide if he were able to get back to his career shooting percentage of almost 38% from deep. Brad Stevens appears to be aiming to take advantage of a depreciated asset amidst Beasley’s struggles, but the package of Aaron Nesmith and Josh Richardson doesn’t appear to be enough to entice Minnesota into moving off the 25-year-old scorer despite a down year. Time is dwindling to formulate a deal that both sides like with the NBA trade deadline just 8 days away but add Beasley to the list of players Boston is targeting ahead of February 10th.
Photo: (Tony Gutierrez – AP Photo)
