The New York Knicks are set up for success ahead of the 2025-26 season.
They are returning all core members of the team that made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and even added some much-needed depth to the bench in free agency. However, they have one open roster spot remaining, and with plenty of options remaining on the free agent market, they could look to add one piece to round out an already balanced roster.
Another name was added to that mix today, as ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that free agent guard Malik Beasley was cleared of any wrongdoing in a federal gambling investigation.
What Would It Take for Beasley to Join the Knicks?
According to Jake Fischer of the Stein Line, the Knicks have already conducted background work on Beasley and could pursue him.
“New York has also been cited as a team that could pursue Malik Beasley after ESPN reported Friday that Beasley is no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation.” Wrote Fischer.
“I’m told that the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Beasley since the teams met in the first round of the playoffs in May and now the sharpshooter appears poised to become an unexpected late-summer free agent of note after the launch of the investigation just as free agency was about to commence led Detroit to scrap its plans to sign him to a new three-year, $42 million deal.”
Beasley, the runner-up to the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, would be a perfect fit on almost any team with his three-point shooting. The Florida State product saw his accuracy hit a career-high in 2024-25 with the Detroit Pistons, knocking down threes at nearly a 42% rate, and chipping in 16.3 points per game.
While he was expected to receive a payday from Detroit in free agency, as Fischer mentioned, it’s too late in the offseason, and teams have already used their cap space. Beasley would be best suited to sign a one-year prove-it deal so he can cash in next Summer, and that’s exactly what the Knicks could offer him.
It would have to be a veteran’s minimum deal, as that’s all New York can provide to stay under the dreaded second apron and maintain flexibility. But if Beasley wants to prove his worth on a contender for all of the basketball world to see, the Knicks would be a great destination to do it in.
