Malik Beasley — the Minnesota Timberwolves guard heading into free agency this offseason — has been arrested at his home in Minnesota and taken into custody, facing a couple of charges: receiving and concealing stolen property, and marijuana possession.
Shams Charania and Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic broke the story.Police arrived at Beasley’s home in Plymouth, Minnesota, on Saturday night and took the 23-year-old into custody. Beasley was being held without bail at Hennepin County Jail until he sees a judge, which could be another 24 hours, sources said...
Steve Haney, Beasley’s attorney released the following statement to The Athletic: “At the time of the incident, multiple individuals were present at the residence. The allegations against Malik will be defended vigorously.”
Beasley has been released from jail and the charges will not become official until he goes before a judge this week, reports Charania.
“We’re aware of the situation with Malik and are gathering more information,” Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said Sunday morning.
The Plymouth Police Department issued a press release describing what happened from their perspective. According to the release, officers were called to a Plymouth home on a reported weapons offense just before 3 a.m.
The victims who called the police said they had stopped their car in front of a home and soon after a man walked up to their vehicle, tapped on the window, and pointed a gun at them, telling them to get off the property. The victims said the man pointed a gun at their vehicle as they drove away.
Police set up a perimeter and a car with three occupants tried to leave the property where the incident occurred. While police spoke to the people in the car — who were detained and later released — a man was yelling at the police officers and saying he was the owner of the property. That man turned out to be Beasley. Police got a search warrant for Beasley’s residence and found marijuana and “numerous” guns, including one that was stolen. Beasley was taken into custody at that point.
Saunders said Beasley — a restricted free agent this offseason — had worked out at the team facilities in previous weeks but had not been with the franchise this week as they moved into 5-on-5 play and scrimmages. The Timberwolves are in the middle of their off-season, voluntary training camp.
Beasley played the best basketball of his career in the 14 games after being traded to Minnesota (before the coronavirus shut down the league). He was the floor-spacing wing the Timberwolves desperately needed with D’Angelo Russell at the point and Karl-Anthony Towns at center. Beasley averaged 20.7 points a game, and he brought a needed feistiness to the lineup.
Beasley is in line for a big payday as a restricted free agent (he turned down a three-year, $30 million extension offer from Denver before the season and that looked like a smart move). Timberwolves GM Gersson Rosas said he wanted to bring Beasley back next season and he has the right to match any offer.
If or how Beasley’s arrest changes his free agency and the demand for his skills remains to be seen.