Malik Beasley is no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation, his attorneys said, after receiving notification from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York that Beasley is not being investigated further.
Beasley’s lawyers, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, emphasized that there has been no charge, indictment or conviction against him. “Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney said. “An allegation with no charge should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence.”
The probe reportedly focused on irregular prop betting activity tied to a January 2024 game in which Beasley was with the Bucks. A sportsbook flagged a surge in bets on Beasley under 2.5 rebounds; Beasley ended that game with six rebounds, and the bets on the under lost. Amid the investigation, reports of Beasley’s financial difficulties and lawsuits for unpaid debts surfaced, fueling speculation about a possible link to the probe.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not issued a public statement on the matter. If Beasley is indeed cleared, it could remove a major obstacle in his path to signing with a new team as free agency resumes.
Beasley was close to a three-year, $42 million deal with the Detroit Pistons before news of the investigation emerged. In the wake of the probe, Detroit added Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson to retool its wing rotation, making a return for Beasley less certain. Still, a return on a non-Bird rights contract — potentially up to roughly $7.2 million annually — remains a possibility, should the market allow.
What this means going forward is that Beasley’s free-agent prospects could improve substantially if the investigation is fully behind him. Teams will weigh the cleared status against past financial and legal headlines, but the stigma of an unresolved probe appears to be easing, potentially opening the door for a fresh opportunity in the NBA.
Extra context and value:
– The situation underscores how investigations—whether or not they lead to charges—can impact a player’s market value and contract offers.
– If Beasley signs with a new team, he could provide perimeter shooting and scoring depth, depending on the role and health, while teams assess any lingering off-court concerns.
– Watch for any formal comments from league or legal authorities that could further clarify his status and the implications for his upcoming season.
Summary: Beasley’s status has shifted from being in limbo due to an investigation to being possibly cleared, which could rejuvenate his free-agent options as teams reassess his value and fit. The next steps will hinge on any official statements and how quickly the market reacts to a cleared status.