Malik Beasley to serve Lengthy Suspension

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley, one of the top candidates for NBA Most Improved Player, has been suspended for the next 12 games, without pay. Beasley will lose $1.1M for the duration of the suspension and will be eligible to return on March 27th, while the Timberwolves will be able to get a $550K credit toward the luxury tax.

Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas said the following in a statement issued shortly after the suspension was announced:

As an organization, we fully support today's decision by the NBA. As we work together with Malik to advance his development as a player and a person, we look forward to seeing his growth.

On February 9th, Beasley was sentenced to 120 days in the Hennepin County Workhouse with work release and/or home monitoring which he will serve after the NBA season concludes. Beasley pleaded guilty in December and as part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop a felony fifth-degree drug possession charge. Beasley has made multiple statements through his socials, as he stated on his Instagram page:

I apologize to all the great fans out there who have supported me during this difficult time and I promise I will come back very soon as a better person and player.

He accompanied his Instagram post with the following tweet: 
Beasley has been a bright spot for Minnesota, the league's worst team at 7-26, as he has averaged 20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.5 apg while shooting 40.6% from 3-point range.

Photo Credit: Mary Holt-USA TODAY Sports