2 logical trade targets from Jazz the Cavs should consider

Logical Cavs trade target #1 from the Jazz: Malik Beasley

The first Jazz player that I’d be interested in this scenario would be Malik Beasley, who was one of several players recently acquired via trade in the Rudy Gobert deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Beasley is a guy that could come in as a bench spark plug for the Cavs, and light it up from three-point range, in what I’d imagine could be in his share of minutes at the 2 or 3.

When he’s been in for Minnesota in recent seasons, Beasley has made his presence felt as a marksman from range, in which he connected on 37.7 percent from three on 8.1 deep attempts per game last year in 79 appearances. He had 12.1 points per contest then.

The previous season, his year was cut short because of a hamstring injury, but then, he was amid a career year, in which he had 19.6 points per contest in a starting role, and hit 39.9 percent from three. Over the course of his time with Minnesota following him being dealt there by the Denver Nuggets during the 2019-20 season, Beasley had 15.1 points in 28.1 minutes per contest, having spent time as either a starter or bench player.

The key way he could be an impactful player for the Cavaliers, whether he’d start or come off the bench, would be as a knockdown shooter, that can make plays as a spacer and/or a movement shooter. He could fit well alongside Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, for example.

Now, Cleveland would have some things to figure out involving his outlook given Caris LeVert would still be in the fold, to go with Isaac Okoro and recent draft pick Ochai Agbaji. Agbaji looks to possibly be that knockdown shooter aside from Lauri Markkanen the Cavs have been searching for, too.

But, in this sense, with what Beasley has proven in recent seasons, and with how he did still hit 38.2 percent from three with Denver, albeit in a much lesser role, Beasley would warrant his share of minutes, anyway.

With the way he can shoot it, Cleveland would find a way to get him the 6-foot-4 Beasley his share of time on the floor. And for what it’s worth, Beasley will be in age-26 season next year, so he could be a player Cleveland could have in the fold long-term.

He’ll be an expiring player after 2023-24, when he’ll make roughly $16.6 million, but if he were to work out well with the Cavs next year, perhaps he could be a player they look to extend, anyhow.