Scouting Report: Malik Beasley

Name: Malik Beasley DOB: 11/26/1996 (19) School: Florida State

Height: 6’5 Weight: 196 Projected Position: SG

2015-16 Stats:

15.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.7 tpg, (29.8 mpg)

47.1 FG%, 81.3 FT%, 38.7 3FG%, 58.3 TS%, 54.1 eFG%

24.3 USG%, 15.1 DREB%, 10.1 REB%, 9.8 AST%, 11.5 TOV%, 1.8 STL%

SKILLS & ATHLETIC BREAKDOWN

Offense

Perimeter Shooting

Beasley came into college with a reputation as a versatile shooter, and much of his skill was able to translate to the college level as a freshman. He is a very good spot shooter, with strong form, though he could work on making his smooth motion a little bit quicker as he tends to short arms shots when he is rushed, which happens more than necessary due to taking a little too much time. Beasley has shown close to NBA three-point range, and he has seemed to have added the strength to make shot consistently. Beasley uses his dribble and screens well to create space, including as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, both in the mid-range and long-range areas, though he still needs to be more consistent with the shot; however, he shows the ability to go left or right well, and he does an excellent job getting square to the basket quickly. Beasley rotates into open spots quickly, ready to shoot, though he needs to work on his general movement off the ball, especially coming off of screens tighter. His shot selection is good from the perimeter, though he can make some shots more difficult than he needs to by taking his time.

Ballhandling/Penetration/Passing

Beasley is an above-average ballhandler, with the ability to use both hands well, and able to attack the basket, or create space for his shot, in either direction. He can be a bit dribble-happy at times, especially when trying to find space for his shot, but he will try to limit when he can. Beasley has a good first step, and he mixes speeds well, using long strides to keep defenders off-balance. The good thing is that he doesn’t always settle for mid-range jumpers and will look to use his body to get to the basket. Beasley shows good control as he gets into the defense, and he is capable of finishing around the basket with either hand, though he has some trouble scoring over rim protectors. He doesn’t mind contact though, and he is strong enough to absorb contact and still get his shot off.

Beasley has some ability as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, with ability to find, or create, his own shots or set up his teammates, usually finding them spotting up on the perimeter. He will still look for the mid-range jumper off the pick-and-roll, but he has good court vision and surprising touch on some difficult passing angles. Beasley doesn’t have the ability yet to make all the reads he needs to, but enough that he can be the primary ballhandler in a set or two.

Free Throw Shooting

As a freshman, Beasley was a very reliable free throw shooter, even hitting big free throws down the stretch of close games. Like his jumper, he has a smooth motion and good release. As a player who shot a majority of his shots at jumpers, Beasley did a good job getting to the line a good amount, with a free throw rate near 33 percent. When he does like to attack the basket, he doesn’t shy from contact, and even on the perimeter, he hits open spots quick enough that defenders end up reaching in on him.

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Defense

Perimeter Defense (On/Off Ball)

Beasley has some potential as an on-ball defender, especially since he has many of the fundamentals down and is already somewhat consistent. Beasley positions himself well between his man and the basket, and shows good lateral movement over short distances, but he is a bit slow when moving laterally, and he loses the corner way too often, even after just a few steps. When engaged, he shows a good defensive stance, and while he likes to reach at the ball now and then, he doesn’t take too many risks. Beasley needs to work on getting over screens, especially recognizing when he is guarding a good shooter, and he has a tendency to make going under screens his first choice, or looking for a switch.

Off the ball, Beasley positions himself well, shows good movement, and has the ability to deny passing lanes effectively. He has average awareness, though he doesn’t have the speed that allows him to get too far out of position. Beasley does a good job chasing his man off the ball, though he could do a better job getting through off-ball screens, especially learning how to play angles effectively. Beasley does a good job closing on shooters on the perimeter, and he doesn’t seem to get drawn in the air by a shot fake often.

Rebounding

Beasley can be a good rebounder for his size and position, tracking shots well, and using his body well to clear some space. While not particularly quick, he does go strong after the ball, and he will battle with bigger players, when needed. Beasley doesn’t get involved on the offensive boards much, but he can be very good at following his own shot, so defenders do need to keep an eye on him after he shoots, and he will go strong after a miss when he sees the opportunity there.

Transition

Beasley can be very good in transition, capable of pushing the ball quickly up court as the ballhandler, or running one of the wings and spotting up from behind the arc or attacking the basket off the dribble. He’s not a great passer in transition, preferring to look for his own shot right now, but he has shown the ability to draw defenders to him to open up teammates. Beasley can have some issues with control when he looks to get to the basket on his own, but, generally, he is a good finisher.

Intangibles/Summary

While Beasley probably wasn’t thought to be a one-and-done candidate heading into college, he had moments where he was very impressive for the Seminoles. He has good size for the shooting guard position, with a still developing body, to go with a versatile offensive game. Beasley is a good long-range shooter, and there’s no reason to doubt that his shooting ability will translate at the NBA level. He also has a solid mid-range game, though his ability to shoot off the dribble still needs to be more consistent. Beasley also has shown a good deal of talent with his ability to get to the rim off the dribble, especially his ability to absorb contact and still score. While playing primarily off the ball, he has shown some ability as a passer in pick-and-roll situations, and with the spacing in the NBA, it can become a more prominent part of his game. On the defensive end, Beasley shows good effort and consistency, he just needs to become a little quicker when defending the ball. Basically, he plays defense as you would expect many college freshmen, though a bit more fundamentally sound. Beasley also can thrive in transition, with his versatile offensive ability having a chance to shine, and it’s another part of his game which should translate well. Beasley made very good strides as a freshman, while still making many expected mistakes. There’s a lot of raw talent here which can be developed by the right coaches.

Draft Value: Late 1^st Round – Early 2^nd Round – #25-35

Shooting is always in demand, and Beasley can do that pretty well already. The NBA three-point line shouldn’t be a big adjustment, and his willingness to attack off the dribble can keep defenders unsteady. Beasley probably isn’t ready to play in the NBA now, but with a team developing the rest of his game closely, he could be a rotation player in a couple of seasons.

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