Minnesota Timberwolves’ Malik Beasley suspended 12 games after guilty plea

Minnesota Timberwolves goalie Malik Beasley has been suspended for 12 games without pay after pleading guilty to one count of threats of violence following an incident in September, the NBA said Thursday.

“As an organization, we fully support the decision taken today by the NBA,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said in a statement shortly after the suspension was announced. “As we work with Malik to advance his development as a player and as a person, we look forward to seeing his growth.”

Beasley’s suspension begins on Saturday, when the Timberwolves are in Washington to face the Wizards. He will be eligible to return to the field on March 27, when Minnesota host the Houston Rockets.

The suspension will cost the guard $ 1.1 million.

Beasley agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month, which saw felony charges against him dropped in exchange for the guilty plea. As a result, Beasley was sentenced to 120 days in jail, which could be served either in the county office or at home, once the NBA season ended in mid-May.

“We are very happy with this result which will allow Malik to continue working to become a better person and make better choices,” Beasley lawyer Steven Haney said in a statement obtained by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach after that the plea was accepted earlier this month. .

In a statement obtained by Schlabach last September, the Plymouth Police Department said officers had been called to Beasley’s home for a reported weapons violation. Informants told officers that they had stopped their car in front of the house and that a “suspect approached their vehicle, tapped on the vehicle window, pointed a gun at them and advised them to get out. of the property “.

“As the victims walked away, the suspect was seen holding the gun to his shoulder, pointing it at their vehicle,” the police statement said.

Officers set up a perimeter to locate the individual and detected a strong odor of marijuana, the statement said. A vehicle attempted to leave the property and was stopped by police. Three people in the car were arrested and then released. A man, who identified himself as the owner, was outside yelling at officers.

Officers obtained a search warrant for the property and found narcotics and numerous guns, one of which was confirmed to be stolen, police said.

Beasley was traded to Minnesota last February and signed a four-year, $ 60 million contract with the Timberwolves during the offseason. He was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise horrific season for Minnesota, averaging 20.5 points per game and shooting 40% from 3-point range.

The Timberwolves are the worst 7-26 in the league and have lost six straight games, as well as 10 of their last 11 games. They haven’t won two games in a row since the first two games of the season. The team fired coach Ryan Saunders after Sunday night’s loss to the New York Knicks and hired Chris Finch – who worked for the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach – as Saunders’ permanent replacement the next day.

Information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks was used in this report.