The Los Angeles Lakers rank amongst the worst shooting teams in the NBA. They've managed a respectable level of efficiency in some respects, but lackluster volume from players other than the ball-dominant stars have put the Lakers in danger of becoming too predictable to truly contend.
In a span of 24 hours, the Lakers have gone from missing out on a golden opportunity to having a second chance at fixing their issues by pursuing a reunion with Malik Beasley.
Beasley, 29, was a target of a federal gambling investigation over the summer, thus resulting in him going unsigned. He's since been cleared, but he remains without a contract despite coming off of the best season of his NBA career thus far.
It was reported on Dec. 7 that Beasley had thus opted to sign with Partizan Belgrade of the Serbian SuperLiga, but the sharpshooting guard has since disproved the rumor.
Malik Beasley shuts down the report about him joining Partizan
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 9, 2025
"I'm not going to Serbia... motherfu--ers know that" pic.twitter.com/O2DuGsAvhj
Thankfully for the Lakers, a second chance has been presented to not only resolve their shooting woes, but figure out how to incorporate Beasley into their system.
Lakers gifted second chance to bring Malik Beasley to Los Angeles
Beasley was acquired alongside D'Angelo Russell and Jarred Vanderbilt in the Lakers' 2023 trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Utah Jazz. He played 26 games for Los Angeles, averaging 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made in 23.9 minutes per game.
Beasley never truly found his footing with the Lakers, shooting an uncharacteristically poor 39.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from beyond the arc.
In the two seasons since his short-lived tenure in Los Angeles, Beasley has emerged as one of the best shooters in the NBA. Unforuntately, he's done so with teams other than the purple and gold, as he averaged 11.3 points and 2.8 three-point field goals made on .443/.413/.714 shooting with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023-24.
Beasley turned in the best season of his career in 2024-25, helping the Detroit Pistons end a six-year postseason drought and ranking among the most efficient shooters in the NBA.
Malik Beasley is an elite shooter who specializes in Lakers' weakest area
Beasley finished the 2024-25 campaign with averages of 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.9 steals, and 3.9 three-point field goals made in 27.8 minutes per game. He did so while shooting at a clip of .430/.416/.679. In the process, he finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
More importantly, Beasley led the NBA in catch-and-shoot three-point field goals made per game and ranked second in catch-and-shoot three-point field goal percentage among players who attempted at least 5.0 per contest.
For perspective on how impressive Beasley's 2024-25 season was: The only player ranked ahead of him in the aforementioned efficiency category was the incomparable Stephen Curry. That's pertinent information when one considers the fact that the Lakers currently rank dead last in catch-and-shoot three-point field goals made per game as a team.
Los Angeles is admittedly No. 15 in efficiency, but lack the type of sharpshooter they can trust to shoot with volume in such a role.
By acquiring Beasley for what would surely be a minimum salary, Los Angeles could instantly change its reality and make progress toward sustained improvement. Rather than relying on a cast of shooters to collectively overachieve, they could identify a go-to option in a catch-and-shoot role and build others' success around them.
Thankfully, Beasley is still available for the Lakers to make a run at after disproving the rumor that he's headed to Serbia. It would behoove Rob Pelinka to at least kick the proverbial tires.