Malik Beasley’s 2024-25 season had the makings of a career-defining moment. He was draining threes at a franchise-record pace for the Detroit Pistons, averaging 16.3 points per game and looking like one of the league’s most dangerous catch-and-shoot threats. The front office was reportedly weighing a multi-year deal worth over $40 million to keep him in Motor City.
Then the headlines changed. By August, Beasley’s name was less about box scores and more about court filings. A federal probe into alleged gambling on NBA games-dating back to his stint with the Milwaukee Bucks-has put his free agency in limbo. Sources told ESPN that irregular betting patterns sparked the investigation, but Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, stressed that his client hasn’t been charged and still deserves the presumption of innocence.
The legal drama didn’t stop there. Court records show Beasley was evicted from The Stott, a luxury high-rise in downtown Detroit owned by Bedrock Detroit. He’d already been sued twice for unpaid rent-more than $21,000 in total-and failed to respond to the second suit, leading to a default judgment. This marks at least the third public rental dispute he’s faced in recent years.
A record season on the court-followed by a losing streak off it
Beyond the eviction, Beasley’s former agency, Hazan Sports Management, is suing him over a $650,000 advance they say was never repaid. Local reports also point to smaller unpaid debts, from personal services to marketing work. When stacked together, it paints the picture of a player juggling multiple financial fires while his basketball future hangs in the balance.
The Pistons, once eager to lock him in long term, have pressed pause. That $42 million conversation is now on ice, and Detroit is reportedly in “wait-and-see” mode while the gambling investigation plays out. Other teams have shown interest, but front offices across the league are paying attention to the headlines.
Beasley hasn’t exactly gone quiet. In a recent social media video, he told fans he’s “ready to destroy anyone in front of me” and hinted that a return to Detroit isn’t off the table. He also suggested multiple franchises have reached out, though he stopped short of naming them.
For now, his offseason looks more like damage control than training camp prep. Beasley is still only 28, with a proven jumper and the kind of scoring punch that can help any contender. But in the NBA, momentum can disappear as fast as it arrives-and right now, the scoreboard he’s playing against isn’t the one hanging over a hardwood floor.
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