Malik Beasley is averaging over 20 PPG per game over his first six games with the Timberpuppies. In fact, by scoring just 21 in this game, his average got lower, since he was averaging 22 PPG per game through his first five games. In any case, the shooting numbers he’s putting up to start his stint with the Timberpoops are making him out to be some kind of stud shooting guard in the making.
When I think about Malik’s situation, getting traded to a situation where he has ultimate free reign on the court and might be the most talented player on the roster with KAT out, I think about another player who was similarly unleashed at the trade deadline a few years ago. I’ll let you think over that one a bit before I reveal who it is. Here’s a hint: Sacramento Kings. Here’s another hint: fat. Here’s a third and final hint: not DeMarcus Cousins.
Did you get it yet? If not, I don’t blame you. The name “Marcus Thornton” might not even ring a bell for more recent NBA fans, and it’s certainly not a name that is notable in the rich history of the NBA. But Marcus Thornton was traded from the the New Orleans Hornets (that’s how long ago this was) to the Sacramento Kings halfway through his second year in the league, and he immediately went from being an afterthought 8 PPG per game scorer with the Hornets to a number-one option 21 PPG per game scorer with the Kings. The parallels between him and Beasley are uncanny.
It turned out that Thornton wouldn’t duplicate that success that he had during the second half of the 2010-11 season. He was out of the league at age 29, fat and forgotten. I’m hopeful that Beasley’s career pans out a bit better than that.