Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley is being investigated by the U.S. District Attorney’s office for allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
Beasley has not been charged, his attorney, Steve Haney, told ESPN.
“An investigation is not a charge,” Haney told Charania. “Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.”
“We are cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement.
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A prominent U.S. sportsbook noticed unusual betting activity on prop bets for Beasley beginning in January 2024, according to ESPN gambling reporter David Payne Purdum. Beasley was playing his lone season with the Milwaukee Bucks at that point. He started 77 games, scoring 11.3 points per game and shooting 41% on 3s.
Per Charania, the Pistons were in “serious talks” with Beasley, 28, on a new three-year, $42 million contract, but those are now on hold. That likely applies to any interest Beasley attracted as a free agent, as well.
Beasley is ranked No. 14 on Yahoo Sport’s NBA free-agency big board and the fourth-best shooting guard on the market by Morten Stig Jensen.
“Beasley signed just a one-year contract last offseason, outplayed it spectacularly, and now the Pistons are left with two options to keep him: find a way to create cap space to sign him into that, or see if he’ll bite on the non-tax [mid-level exception].”
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Last season, Beasley emerged as an impact player for Detroit as the team returned to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2019. Signing a one-year, $6 million deal, he averaged 16.3 points and shot 41% on 3-pointers, finishing second in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.
Beasley’s 319 3-pointers made were second in the league behind Anthony Edwards’ 320 for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Beasley became the third player in NBA history to hit 300 3s while shooting at least 40% from behind the arc.
Detroit selected Tennessee sharpshooter Chaz Lanier in the second round of last week’s NBA Draft and is reportedly among the top suitors for free-agent guard Nickeil Walker-Alexander. This development with Beasley could potentially increase urgency for the Pistons to move on both of those fronts.
