Hot starts for these Cavs trade targets could grease the skids

Hot start for Cavs trade targets: Malik Beasley

Going to the Utah Jazz for upgrade options worked when the Cavs traded for Donovan Mitchell, and they could pick up the phone again and ask about Malik Beasley. The 6’4″ sharpshooter arrived in the Rudy Gobert trade and has continued to bomb away for the surprising Utah Jazz.

Beasley is not afraid to launch up shots, and he has grown as a movement shooter to get himself open around other on-ball teammates. Last season he shot 37.7 percent from deep on 11.6 attempts per 36 minutes; this year in a smaller role he is hitting 38.6 percent on 8.4 attempts.

Beasley is an excellent fit around on-ball stars such as Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland (or players like Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson in Utah) because he knows his role. He doesn’t dribble the air out of the ball; when he catches he shoots. That’s why he led the league in turnover percentage last year, giving the ball away on just 4.7 percent of his possessions.

Making around $15.6 million this season it may be tricky to stack the salary to add Beasley, but if the Jazz get to a point where they embrace the tank, they will need to trade veteran pieces quickly and the Cavs could jump into the fray and benefit.