DETROIT – Free agency officially begins June 30 at 6 p.m., but NBA teams are already in discussions about trades and signings. However, contracts can’t be signed until Sunday, July 6, 2025
The Detroit Pistons, fresh off a historic turnaround season, are among those engaged in talks with players like shooting guard Malik Beasley.
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Detroit made NBA history in the 2024-25 season by becoming the first franchise to improve by 30 wins after a league-worst campaign.
The Pistons went from 14-68 during the 2023-24 season to 44-38 last year, clinching the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Their playoff run ended in six games against the New York Knicks.
The season ended on a bittersweet note when Beasley fumbled the ball out of bounds on the Pistons’ final play inside Little Caesars Arena.
Beasley, who set a franchise record with 319 three-pointers in his lone Detroit season, was poised to sign a three-year, $42 million contract to stay with the team.
However, those talks are now on hold amid a serious federal investigation.
The U.S. District Attorney’s Office alleges Beasley gambled on NBA games and prop bets during the 2023-24 season.
Beasley’s legal troubles extend beyond gambling allegations, as he pleaded guilty to a felony charge related to making threats of violence and was sentenced to 120 days in jail.
He served 78 days after being arrested in September 2020 for brandishing a firearm at a family near his property.
Attorney Steve Haney, representing Beasley, said on the gambling allegations, “An investigation is not a charge. Malik is afforded the same right of the presumption of innocence as anyone else under the U.S. Constitution. As of now, he has not been charged with anything.”
Beasley’s investigation follows other NBA gambling-related cases.
Toronto Raptors forward-center Jontay Porter was banned for life after pleading guilty to wire fraud linked to prop bets.
Point guard Terry Rozier was investigated for unusual betting patterns during a 2023 game but was neither charged nor disciplined.
The Porter case began when the NBA became aware of suspicious betting patterns from licensed sports betting operators.
Porter allegedly provided a bettor with inside information on his health before a March 2024 game, enabling an $80,000 bet that could have won $1.1 million.
Beasley signed a one-year, $6.6 million contract with the Pistons for the 2024-25 season.
He helped Detroit reach the postseason for the first time since 2019 and ended the franchise’s 15-game playoff losing streak, averaging 16.3 points per game.
Before joining the Pistons, Beasley played for several teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
But the veteran shooting guard may be facing an uphill battle if he is found guilty, as potentially losing a multi-million dollar contract will be the least of his worries.
