On Friday, it was revealed that former Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley had been cleared of any wrongdoing in a federal gambling probe. The allegations were initially (and understandably) quite harmful to Beasley’s NBA career, as, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Pistons pulled a three-year, $42 million contract for the 3-point sharpshooter when this gambling discussion surfaced earlier this year.
A couple of days later, with Beasley in the clear, he already might have two of the best possible free agent landing pads on deck. That they come after his career was almost derailed entirely should feel like a godsend.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have both already checked in on Beasley’s current status. That, to put it lightly, puts Beasley in a fantastic position to take his elite shooting to a team with genuine NBA Finals aspirations, as the Cavaliers and Knicks both figure to lead a top-heavy Eastern Conference next season.
Now, of course, as Beasley figures out his next NBA move, it’ll be about his personal preference, which can be complicated to parse through. But I think Beasley’s potential decision is pretty simple.
He should join the Knicks to provide them with more depth. There, I said it. Yes, the Cavaliers figure to run it back with a squad that won 64 regular-season games last year before flaming out in the playoffs because of injuries. Yes, Beasley might theoretically be happier in a smaller role on a deeper Cleveland team. For someone who was third in the NBA in 3-pointers made on 41.6 percent shooting last season, Beasley probably has a better chance of a Finals run if he heads to Ohio.
However, it’s hard to beat the allure of being in New York on a good Knicks team in a city that thinks of itself as a basketball town. And the Knicks can more readily give Beasley top-eight rotation minutes (which also means more shots) to complement Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. I happen to like Beasley’s shooting and spacing fit a lot more around that dynamic New York offensive duo rather than what I would presume to be a somewhat awkward three-headed guard lineup around Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
Rotation minutes aside, Beasley’s skill set fits more seamlessly with the Knicks.
In all actuality, Beasley can’t really go wrong here. If his options boil down to New York or Cleveland, he will likely be playing high-level, meaningful basketball next season regardless. But the Knicks will still, in my estimation, make him happier.
Could the Pistons possibly re-sign Malik Beasley?
Unfortunately for Detroit, a Beasley reunion doesn’t seem all that likely.
Even if both sides were interested in coming back together, the Pistons can no longer offer Beasley the contract they offered him pre-gambling investigation because they pivoted and signed Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert. And at this point, if teams like the Cavaliers and Knicks are chasing Beasley, who can only offer minimum-type deals, then the Pistons have probably been priced out even on the low end.
Ah, well, at least Detroit had a backup plan. Now Beasley gets to use his.