With the Detroit Pistons' hot start to the season, their offseason struggles have long been forgotten. It was only a few months ago when the Pistons' offseason plans took a major hit as Malik Beasley was hit with a federal gambling investigation. Detroit was getting ready to offer Beasley a multi-year deal to have him return as the starting shooting guard, but had to pivot as the investigation put Beasley's NBA career in jeopardy.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Beasley has yet to be charged with anything. Instead, he is a person of interest in the case, suggesting that he could return to court sooner rather than later. His presence on social media and reports around the league hinted at the possibility of the veteran sharpshooter's return to the NBA.
Instead of an NBA return, however, Beasley may be headed overseas to sign a surprise new deal. Serbian basketball reporter Dusan Markovic reported on Nova.rs that Beasley received an offer from Partizan Belgrade worth $2 million for the next six months. Partizan is off to a disappointing start in the Euroleague and is 5-9 for the season. Their legendary head coach, Zeljko Obradovic, stepped down in recent weeks, leaving the club in a precarious position. So, their attempt at signing Beasley could be seen as a way to repair the relationship with the furious fanbase.
Malik Beasley May Be Headed Overseas After Surprise Negotiations Emerge
On paper, that is an excellent deal for Beasley. He is clearly not being considered an option by NBA teams, as he remains unemployed with a quarter of the regular season behind us. The opportunity to make $2 million for half a season while proving to everyone that you can still contribute at a high level may be too good to pass up.
For NBA teams, signing Beasley after he already returned to court in Europe will be more palatable. They may be hesitant to be the first team to approach Beasley before he gets fully cleared. Once he re-establishes his career in Europe, however, the transition back to the NBA could be smoother for both Beasley and the teams around the league.
Beasley had the best season of his career last season in Detroit, shooting a career-high 41.6% from 3-point land on a whopping 9.3 attempts per game. Making a name for himself as one of the league's best high-volume, high-accuracy shooters, Beasley was in line for a big payday. He may never receive the type of contract he was about to get with the Pistons again, but he is only 29 years old and should have an opportunity to redeem himself in the NBA if his overseas stint goes according to plan.