The busy offseason period in the NBA is over. Teams have largely made their moves and constructed their rosters for the 2025-26 season ahead. While it's going to be a quiet period for the NBA landscape for the next month or so, it will continue to be a whirlwind for one former Laker.
Malik Beasley, who spent the second half of the 2022-23 season with the Los Angeles Lakers, was hit with a gambling investigation earlier in the offseason. Following his career season with the Detroit Pistons, Beasley was set to have a big payday in free agency until the United States Attorney's office announced an investigation into the veteran shooting guard. This forced the Pistons to pivot and left Beasley without a team until the investigation concludes.
Despite this development, Beasley seems to be in good spirits, per his former teammate Patrick Beverley. The former Lakers guard, who spent time with Beasley playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, explained in the latest episode of his podcast that the 28-year-old sharpshooter "seems like he's going to be on a roster next season".
"He was in real good spirits. I was able to chop it up with him. His mouth, his demeanor—seems like he’s in a good place. He’s confident. He seems like he’s going to be on a roster next season. Hey, I’m telling you what he felt. I’m not telling you what the truth is."Pat Beverley on Malik Beasley
Pat Bev is obviously not a reporter, and he highlights in his remarks that he is not basing this on anything other than the impression he got from his former teammate. If Beasley is indeed in good spirits, however, it could mean that there may be a way out of the predicament he currently finds himself in.
According to offseason reporting, Beasley was set to receive a three-year, $42 million deal from the Pistons this summer. Even if Beasley makes an improbable NBA comeback as soon as next season, it will be almost impossible for him to get a contract anywhere near that amount. It's not even clear that teams will be interested in him after this scandal, as they could be inviting unwanted media attention and fan scrutiny.
Whether there is interest in Beasley, and how much of that contract value he will be able to earn back, remains to be seen.