As Malik Beasley reportedly remains under NBA investigation, the former Detroit Pistons sharpshooter has found a new team.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the veteran guard is signing a deal to play in Puerto Rico. He is joining the Santurce Crabbers, which is owned by Grammy award-winning artist, Bad Bunny, who just performed the halftime show at the Super Bowl.
By now, Beasley was hoping to have his situation cleared up with the NBA, but it’s still ongoing. The former first-round pick kept teasing potential moves earlier in the year, but he remained a free agent.
Last season, Beasley was one of the top reserves in the league. Playing all 82 games for the Pistons, he shot 41 percent from three, averaging 16.3 points per game. He was the league’s runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Over the offseason, Beasley was expected to garner a notable contract extension with the Pistons. Reports suggested that the Pistons were willing to offer three years for $42 million. Just days before free agency began, Beasley was under investigation for gambling-related reasons.
The Pistons ended up taking their attention elsewhere, waiting for that situation to get resolved. Detroit added Caris LeVert in free agency and struck a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat to land Duncan Robinson. Their shooting was brought on to help replace Beasley, who was critical in helping the Pistons get on track and make a playoff bid in 2025.
According to Shams Charania, Beasley’s move to Puerto Rico is seemingly temporary. It’s an opportunity to showcase himself ahead of free agency in 2026. That should signal Beasley won’t be returning to the NBA for a team down the final stretch of the 2025-2026 NBA season.
With a strong showing in PR, Beasley could gain significant attention in free agency this summer if the case is cleared up by then. With 578 games under his belt, Beasley has averaged 11.7 points while shooting 39 percent from three throughout his career. He’s also got 43 games of playoff experience, having stints with the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Lakers, Bucks, and the Pistons.
For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports