How False Gambling Allegations Screwed Malik Beasley Out of $42 Million Extension

[ad_1] <img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1755961450827" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1755961450827" alt="May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) fires up the crowd in the first half against the New York Knicks during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images" class="w-full"/> Could 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) fires up the gang within the first half towards the New York Knicks throughout recreation six of first spherical for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Area. Necessary Credit score: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Photos Malik Beasley may need gotten screwed out of tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} due to false playing allegations.

In late June, the ex-Detroit Pistons guard was the topic of a federal playing investigation. ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the information proper earlier than free company, inflicting clips on social media to go viral exhibiting Beasley giving lackadaisical effort on sure performs and further effort on the finish of video games the place the unfold was proper on the quantity.

There’s little doubt it seemed suspicious to the bare eye. However because it seems, the federal government discovered nothing to again up the allegations.

On Jan. 31, uncommon betting exercise poured in on Beasley to document underneath 2.5 rebounds in Detroit’s matchup towards the Dallas Mavericks. It’s an odd wager to see heavy motion on, however Beasley completed the sport with six rebounds. All people who hammered that wager misplaced. So the pink flags that have been raised appeared unwarranted.

This data was not initially reported. The feds have been investigating a scenario surrounding a participant prop the place Beasley hit the over — the other of what you’d do when you have been betting on your self to control an final result.

The issue is, Beasley is contemporary off one of the best season of his profession. He performed all 82 video games for the Pistons on a one-year prove-it deal, averaging 16 factors per recreation and serving to Detroit win its first NBA playoff recreation since 2008.

However this report going public hours earlier than free company precipitated the Pistons to drag a three-year, $42 million extension. Detroit used that cash on Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson and Javonte Inexperienced.

Different suitors, such because the New York Knicks, have emerged now that Beasley has been cleared. Nonetheless, it appears unlikely his contract will match the cash he was set to make earlier than the allegations surfaced. The Brooklyn Nets are the one crew within the NBA with sufficient cap area to match that preliminary provide, however they might not even pursue him as they’re in the course of a rebuild.

“An allegation with no cost, indictment or conviction ought to by no means have the catastrophic consequence this has precipitated Malik,” Beasley’s lawyer Steve Haney stated. “This has actually been the other of the presumption of innocence.”

It’s laborious to disagree. Beasley was hours away from signing a contract that will have assured him generational wealth. As a substitute, a narrative with no element went public, inflicting groups to understandably again away from a participant with severe allegations hanging over him.