5 Potential trade targets that fit into the Hawks’ $25 million exception

Malik Beasley was on the Hawks’ radar

Typically, the rumor mill consists of outsiders discussing deals they would like to see get dealt and two where. There are also instances of front office types speaking out though those interactions are often more controlled and less revealing.

When players speak on such matters, it tends to be worth a listen since the source and end goal are much clearer as was the case with Los Angeles Lakers swingman Malik Beasley.

“I’ve heard…almost every team,” Beasley, 26, told Chris Haynes on the ‘#thisleague UNCUT’ podcast about who had checked in with Utah about acquiring his services ahead of the February 9 trade deadline. “I know for sure Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Phoenix. It’s been a lot of options.”

That is not a guarantee for Beasley — also an Atlanta native — however.

He was traded to the Lakers where he fell out of the rotation by the time they reached the NBA Finals.

Before he was dealt away, Beasley averaged 13.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.7 rebounds in Utah. He only shot 35.9% from deep this past season but shot 38.9% from long distance over the last four seasons split between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

This trade would have to wait until June 29 when his $16.5 million salary becomes guaranteed.

“He can be a contributor, really on any team,” a rival executive told Heavy Sports NBA insider Sean Deveney about the Lakers’ potential plans for Beasley. “The expectation is they’ll keep him. He can be a good trade piece if you need one. It’s just, if the tax is a big worry, he’d be the easy piece to move off of.”

This is another potential trade that made more sense before the Hawks drafted Bufkin with Beasley’s primary attribute being his three-point shooting and little else.

From there, the list of options thins out even further in both quality and salary.