A former Milwaukee Bucks standout has been given the green light to continue with his free agency after it was derailed by a federal gambling investigation earlier this summer.
Milwaukee has had a challenging offseason, to be fair, but nothing even approaching the craziness of ex-Bucks swingman Malik Beasley’s summer.
Coming off a great season with the Detroit Pistons, the 28-year-old shooting guard appeared primed to cash in with a massive, long-term new free agent contract. Instead, he was hit with a gambling investigation.
Malik Beasley’s career could be back on track after gambling investigation concludes
The NBA takes gambling violations extremely seriously, despite having multiple partnerships with big betting sites. Former Toronto Raptors big man Jontay Porter, brother of now-Brooklyn Nets forward Michael, was banned for the balance of his career last season after an investigation revealed he had been coordinating with gamblers to cash in on his own stats. Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier remains under investigation for his own potential gambling violations.
Now, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports that the Eastern District of New York has cleared Beasley of any wrongdoing in a federal gambling investigation surrounding some unusual bets placed on his performance in a January 31, 2024 Bucks game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
ESPN story on Malik Beasley receiving determination that he is not a target in Eastern District of New York’s gambling investigation, potentially opening door for the sharpshooter with the second-most 3s in NBA last season to resume free agency: https://t.co/fg1QfwhJT3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 22, 2025
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” said one of Beasley’s attorneys, Steve Haney. “An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence.”
The investigation had effectively killed interest in Beasley’s services this summer, considering he faced a potential lifetime ban or at least a very long suspension. Now, Beasley instantly becomes the best unrestricted free agent left on the market.
According to Spotrac’s Keith Smith, at least eight NBA clubs could still offer Beasley significantly more than a veteran’s minimum contract.
The Brooklyn Nets, who are still figuring out the restricted free agency of shooting guard Cam Thomas, have actual cap space it could use on Beasley, although a win-now player of his ilk doesn’t make much sense on a tanking team like Brooklyn.
The Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings and even the Pistons have all or some of their non-taxpayer mid-level exceptions available. Smith notes that a ninth club, the Golden State Warriors, could conceivably get into the mix at a non-minimum number, depending on how the restricted free agency of power forward Jonathan Kuminga gets resolved.
Here are the teams that could offer Malik Beasley more than the $7.2M DET can offer using his Non-Bird rights:
BKN: $15M in cap space
CHA: $14.1M NTMLE
CHI: $14.1M NTMLE
IND: $13.5M of NTMLE
MIA: $7.3M of NTMLE
OKC: $8.5M of NTMLE
SAC: $7.3M of NTMLE
WAS: $14.1M NTMLEGSW could…
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 22, 2025
Beasley finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season thanks to his superlative sharpshooting on a good Pistons team. Across 82 games (18 starts), he notched averages of 16.3 points with a .430/.416/.679 slash line, along with 2.6 boards, 1.7 dimes and 0.9 swipes per.
Would the Bucks have a shot at Beasley on a minimum deal again? He has likely played his way beyond that level, even after this gambling investigation, and would probably only take such an agreement on a club with a legitimate shot of winning it all next season. Even then, the reigning champion Thunder actually have $8.5 million they could spend on him!
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