Malik Beasley Cleared of Federal Investigation: A Fresh Start in the NBA?
Basketball player Malik Beasley is no longer the subject of the federal investigation into gambling conducted by the Eastern District of New York, according to his lawyers, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter. This news could reopen the doors to free agency for one of the NBA’s most prominent shooters. Haney and Schachter confirmed that they held extensive conversations and meetings with the authorities of the Eastern District of New York, who determined that Beasley is not considered the target of the investigation. The accusations focused on bets related to NBA games and prop bets during the 2023-24 season.On June 29, it was reported that Beasley was under federal investigation, which halted negotiations and free agency offers. At that time, NBA spokesman Mike Bass indicated that the league was cooperating with the investigation. Sources close to the matter revealed that Beasley and the Detroit Pistons were on the verge of closing a three-year, $42 million contract. However, the proposal vanished when the franchise learned of the federal investigation. Other interested teams also paused talks with the player. During the last few weeks, several teams have been in contact with Beasley’s representatives to learn about his situation. In the 2024-25 season, Beasley, who finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting, averaged 16.3 points in the 82 games. He scored 319 three-pointers, the most in a season in Pistons history and the second-highest in the NBA that season, only surpassed by Anthony Edwards. Beasley also ranked second in total points and total three-pointers off the bench, and led with 248 three-pointers from catch-and-shoot, the most since player tracking began in 2013-14. Beasley signed a one-year contract with the Pistons in the 2024 offseason. Because Detroit signed Caris LeVert, the most Beasley can get by re-signing with the Pistons is $7.2 million. The teams with exceptions to offer Beasley a contract exceeding $7.2 million include the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings, and Washington Wizards. The Brooklyn Nets also have available salary cap space. During the 2023-24 season, which was the focus of the accusations, Beasley averaged 11.3 points in 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks and started 77 times. An American betting house detected an unusually high interest in Beasley’s statistics starting in January 2024. Bets on Beasley recording less than 2.5 rebounds were drastically reduced before a game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31, 2024. Beasley finished with six rebounds, and the bets considered unusual were lost. In 2020, when Beasley played for the Timberwolves, he pleaded guilty to a charge of threats of violence and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, which he served after the 2020-21 season. He was also suspended for 12 games by the NBA in 2021.“Months after this investigation began, Malik has not been charged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney stated. “An accusation without charges, indictment, or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequences that this has caused for Malik. This has been literally the opposite of the presumption of innocence.”
Steve Haney, Malik Beasley’s Attorney
