Multiple teams have had “due diligence” conversations with the Nuggets about guard Malik Beasley, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. Beasley, who will be a restricted free agent in 2020, had extension talks with Denver earlier this year, but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement.
As Charania explains, the Nuggets often receive trade inquiries on their wings, given their depth at that spot, but haven’t gained any traction on potential deals. Beasley had a breakout season in 2018/19, but has been in and out of Denver’s rotation so far this season. If the team isn’t confident about its chances of locking him up next summer, he could become a trade candidate as the season progresses.
Here’s more from Charania:
- The Rockets, who are likely to target wings on the trade market, are open to surrendering future assets for immediate help, according to Charania.
- There has been frustration within the Hawks‘ organization about the team’s struggles this season, with Trae Young having reportedly expressed those frustrations in an “emotional” locker room scene recently, per Charania. Multiple sources tell The Athletic that a high-ranking Hawks official was recently seen telling Young that the club would be getting him some help on the roster soon.
- Rival teams have been surprised by the Thunder‘s apparent willingness to absorb salary and longer-term contracts in potential trades, says Charania. Oklahoma City is slightly above the luxury tax line, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the club looks to reduce its team salary a little, but it seems OKC is willing to accommodate salary dumps too. That could mean, for instance, taking back a bad multiyear deal or two in exchange for an expiring contract like Danilo Gallinari‘s.
- Wizards point guard Isaiah Thomas is expected to miss at least another week due to his calf injury, sources tell Charania.
- While many players will become trade-eligible next Sunday (December 15), the trade market is expected to take some time to develop, according to Charania. “There are still too many teams that think they have a playoff chance,” one team executive told The Athletic, “before the true buyers and sellers emerge.”
Time for the Hawks to start trying to win. Trae is ready to compete, John Collins is good, Hunter is looking good so far this year.
They have loads of expiring deals (Crabbe, Parsons, Turner) and being Atlanta they could look to bring in a big name possibly DeRozan but that could be a risky at his age.
I think Malik Beasley could be a good backcourt partner for Young. Beasley is a good scorer, he’s born in Atlanta and is only 23.
I think another player they should try bring in I’d Mo Bamba, I’d swap Bamba for Reddish. Bamba and Collins would be a great duo and Reddish has failed bounce back from his bad year from duke so far. He’s shooting 32% from the floor and 25% from deep. Maybe Orlando give him a good could be good as a back up 2/3
I agree with you Tazza on the expiring contracts. In the past, however, Atlanta has not been a place to attract free agents. However, Atlanta has not had an organization changing player in Young in more than a decade. It looks like another lottery pick and a bunch of expiring contracts at seasons end. Atlanta will be a completely different team next year.