5 free agents for the Orlando Magic to keep an eye on
Malik Beasley, Los Angeles Lakers
| Season | Age | Tm | G | MP | FG% | 3P% | eFG% | FT% | TRB | AST | STL | TOV | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | TOT | 58 | 26.4 | .395 | .357 | .521 | .841 | 3.5 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 13.3 |
| 2022-23 | 26 | UTA | 55 | 26.8 | .396 | .359 | .522 | .841 | 3.6 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 13.4 |
| 2022-23 | 26 | LAL | 3 | 20.3 | .382 | .320 | .500 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 11.3 | |
| Career | 394 | 21.7 | .423 | .380 | .539 | .819 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 10.8 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 2/16/2023.
The Orlando Magic are always looking for depth. It may be low on the priority list, but the team is going to have to keep up its scoring punch off the bench.
Orlando has seen how powerful its bench groups can be of late too. Cole Anthony has started to turn himself into a solid sixth man. But his price is about to rise pretty significantly. Very quietly, this could be the biggest decision of the offseason.
It could make sense for Orlando to make that decision now or to add center depth by signing a player while they still have cap room and then add Anthony on top of that.
More on the Anthony debate in the offseason. For now, there are several bench players who are worth taking a look at to give the team some scoring punch.
I will highlight former Florida State guard Malik Beasley in this space.
Beasley is averaging 13.3 points per game on 35.7 percent shooting for the Utah Jazz and now the Los Angeles Lakers. He has been a bursty scorer throughout his career, able to string together 3-pointers in a hurry.
His problem has been inconsistency. But he has always been able to put up some points and provide some nice punch off the bench wherever he has been. For a team that just needs a scorer at times, Beasley can provide some major help.
And the team might be able to get him at a bit of a discount or a more reasonable deal. He does have a team option for next year at $16.5 million. That likely means he will stay with the Lakers. That is one of the benefits they were likely seeking in trading for him.