Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly interested in Jazz wing Malik Beasley

Add Utah Jazz wing Malik Beasley to the list of possible Cleveland Cavaliers wing targets.

Per NBA insider on Marc Stein, the Cavs have “weighed” pursuing a three-team trade involving Cleveland, the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks that would net Cleveland Malik Beasley. In the theoretical framework, the Cavs would send Caris LeVert (and his expiring $18.8 million salary) to the Hawks and John Collins would be go to the Jazz with Beasley going to the Cavs.

From Stein’s newsletter ($):

As part of the Cavaliers’ ongoing search for wing upgrades, league sources say, they have weighed pursuing a three-way trade scenario that would land Atlanta’s John Collins with the Jazz and bring Utah’s Malik Beasley to Cleveland. The Jazz have well-chronicled interest in Collins but, to this point, have given the Hawks pause by seeking additional draft compensation for taking on Collins, who still has three seasons left on his five-year, $125 million contract after this one. Caris LeVert’s $18.8 million expiring contract is the Cavaliers’ most obvious trade chip.

Beasley, 26, would be an interesting Cavs target because of his shooting ability. On the year, he’s shooting 35.8% from three on 8.6 attempts per game. He’s not the 3.5-type forward the Cavs could really use to fill their starting small forward spot, but he would be provide spacing they need. Sending out LeVert would be the only real way to get it done.

It is worth noting here that the Cavs don’t really have the juice to complete this deal without the other sides buying in. The Donovan Mitchell trade depleted the Cavs’ cache of first-round picks, so all they really have to add in would be second rounders. And as Stein reports, it looks like the Jazz want compensation for Collins. That would almost certainly have to come from Atlanta.

Beasley would be interesting, even if it’s not a perfect fit. It’s unclear if it’s a realistic trade option, but it’s worth monitoring.