Pistons Face Stiff Competition from Rival to Sign Former Player

The Detroit Pistons could still bring back Malik Beasley, but it won't be easy.
Mar 19, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) looks on against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mar 19, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) looks on against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Former Detroit Pistons shooting guard Malik Beasley was tangled up in one of the most bizarre storylines in recent NBA history.

He was under a federal investigation for his alleged involvement in a sports gambling scheme. He's now been cleared of any wrongdoing, but it might be too little, too late.

He was projected to sign a three-year, $42 million deal with the Pistons early in the offseason. However, with the news of the investigation, neither the Pistons nor any other team made a run at him, and understandably so. That's finally about to change, and the Pistons might find it tricky to bring him back.

Knicks and Cavaliers Want to Sign Malik Beasley

According to a report by NBA insider Michael Scotto, the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers have reached out to Beasley. He adds that Beasley has a history with executive Gersson Rosas, who signed him to a four-year, $60 million extension when they were both with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Unfortunately, neither of those teams can offer Beasley the type of deal he could've signed with the Pistons. With that in mind, he might rather run it back in Detroit as opposed to relocating again, although the Pistons have already signed Caris LeVert.

If money is what Beasley is after, just a handful of teams would make sense for him. According to ESPN insider Shams Charania, only six teams could offer him more than $7.2 million a year:

"Teams that have an exception to sign Beasley to a contract greater than $7.2 million include the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, New Orleans Pelicans, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. The Brooklyn Nets also have cap space of more than $20 million," wrote Charania.

Beasley is one of the most efficient volume shooters in the game. He's a 39.1 percent three-point shooter, and he's coming off averaging 16.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 3.9 three-pointers per game on 43/41/67 shooting splits.

That type of production usually goes at a prime price in today's pace-and-space NBA, but with money drying out at this point in the offseason, perhaps his best bet will be to sign a one-year contract and test free agency again next summer.

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