Former Pistons guard Malik Beasley cleared in federal gambling probe
Malik Beasley can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Eastern District of New York is no longer pursuing the former Pistons shooting guard as a target in a federal gambling investigation.
This is huge news for the 28-year-old sharpshooter who saw his free agency plans completely derailed when the investigation became public a few months ago.
Beasley was likely headed back to Detroit before the probe surfaced. Once word got out about the investigation, teams backed away and Beasley was left in limbo while the legal situation played out.
Now teams are circling back.
NBA insider Mike Scotto reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have both checked in on Beasley’s availability.
The timing of the investigation couldn’t have been worse for a player coming off a career year. Beasley was absolutely lights-out from beyond the arc last season, hitting 41.6% of his three-pointers – placing him in the top 20 in the league for accuracy.
Only Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards made more threes than Beasley’s 319 last season.
He was an ironman for Detroit, playing all 82 games while providing instant offense off the bench. His 15.3 points per game helped him finish second in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
While the news is positive, Beasley might not be completely in the clear yet. Scotto noted that while Beasley is no longer a “target” of the investigation, he could still be a “subject” – two terms with different meanings at the Department of Justice.
There’s also the possibility that Beasley could have violated NBA rules even if he didn’t break any laws.
Still, the reduced legal scrutiny has teams ready to take a chance on the veteran shooter.
Both Cleveland and New York currently have an open roster spot, though Scotto indicates they might only offer Beasley a minimum salary deal.
The Knicks might have an inside track – their senior VP of basketball operations, Gersson Rosas, has worked with Beasley in the past.
For a player who was considered one of the best bench scorers in the league just months ago, Beasley’s situation shows how quickly things can change in the NBA – and how fast they can potentially turn back around.
