Offseason Thread

[Who]

Malik Beasley is no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation conducted by the Eastern District of New York, his attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told ESPN on Friday, potentially reopening free agency for one of the NBA's top shooters.

- via ESPN

Wow, that is a big turnaround. How much money did this investigation (which amounted to nothing) cost Malik Beasley? Was it $45 million or something like that?

It will be interesting to see how much of that he can recoup. What level of market is left for him. Or will he be forced into a smaller deal. Maybe even a minimum deal.

"An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence."

Quote from one of his two attorneys Steve Haney.

Sources said that Beasley and the Detroit Pistons were set to complete a three-year, $42 million contract to bring the 28-year-old guard

Beasley, who finished second in the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year race, averaged 16.3 points while appearing in all 82 games last season, his first season with Detroit over a nine-year NBA career. Beasley made 319 3-pointers, the most in a season in Pistons franchise history and the second most in the NBA that season, trailing  Anthony Edwards by one trey.

[Who]

The Sacramento Kings are no longer actively discussing trades for Malik Monk, sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Monk had been the subject of trade discussions throughout the offseason, though he is valued by the organization for how he's embraced his role within the team.

The team still remain interested in signing Russell Westbrook, added Stein.

He added that SAC will look for another way to open up a roster spot to sign Westbrook.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Not sure if it was seen or posted on here, but I guess a trade with Simons has been linked to both the Sixers and the Nuggets.

Not sure I believe either. I don't see any way that the Sixers one could work, and they already have 3 young combo guards on their roster.

The Nuggets make some sense. Getting a guy that can play both next to Murray and without Murray would definitely hedge some concerns for Murray's health. It's hard not to get a bit excited about how good Simons could be playing next to Jokic. However, I don't see the trade. The only trade that could possibly work is something around Gordon, but even then other contracts have to be involved going to a third team. Plus, unless the Nuggets really think that some combination of Nnaji, Brown, Watson, and Holmes can take Gordon's place, I don't get the trade.

Gordon's contract gets a lot bigger than it is this year, but it would allow the Cs to reset the apron penalties before the higher salaries kicks in. Gordon could be a great fit at the 4 next to Brown and Tatum, even playing some small-ball 5.

Honestly, I think they are unsubstantiated "rumors" - just click-bait, but they were click-bait for teams that I had never thought of as a fit for Simons.

[SparzWizard]

Malik Beasley is no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation conducted by the Eastern District of New York, his attorneys, Steve Haney and Mike Schachter, told ESPN on Friday, potentially reopening free agency for one of the NBA's top shooters.

- via ESPN

Wow, that is a big turnaround. How much money did this investigation (which amounted to nothing) cost Malik Beasley? Was it $45 million or something like that?

It will be interesting to see how much of that he can recoup. What level of market is left for him. Or will he be forced into a smaller deal. Maybe even a minimum deal.

"An allegation with no charge, indictment or conviction should never have the catastrophic consequence this has caused Malik. This has literally been the opposite of the presumption of innocence."

Quote from one of his two attorneys Steve Haney.

Sources said that Beasley and the Detroit Pistons were set to complete a three-year, $42 million contract to bring the 28-year-old guard

Beasley, who finished second in the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year race, averaged 16.3 points while appearing in all 82 games last season, his first season with Detroit over a nine-year NBA career. Beasley made 319 3-pointers, the most in a season in Pistons franchise history and the second most in the NBA that season, trailing  Anthony Edwards by one trey.

Guess it's guilty until proven innocent these days. Just like the good 'ol Deflategate from NFL. Beasley should take the responsible party to court for defamation and hindering him from having a bigger contract.

[Roy H.]

Guess it's guilty until proven innocent these days. Just like the good 'ol Deflategate from NFL. Beasley should take the responsible party to court for defamation and hindering him from having a bigger contract.

What was the untrue statement, though?

[Vermont Green]

Not sure if it was seen or posted on here, but I guess a trade with Simons has been linked to both the Sixers and the Nuggets.

Not sure I believe either. I don't see any way that the Sixers one could work, and they already have 3 young combo guards on their roster.

The Nuggets make some sense. Getting a guy that can play both next to Murray and without Murray would definitely hedge some concerns for Murray's health. It's hard not to get a bit excited about how good Simons could be playing next to Jokic. However, I don't see the trade. The only trade that could possibly work is something around Gordon, but even then other contracts have to be involved going to a third team. Plus, unless the Nuggets really think that some combination of Nnaji, Brown, Watson, and Holmes can take Gordon's place, I don't get the trade.

Gordon's contract gets a lot bigger than it is this year, but it would allow the Cs to reset the apron penalties before the higher salaries kicks in. Gordon could be a great fit at the 4 next to Brown and Tatum, even playing some small-ball 5.

Honestly, I think they are unsubstantiated "rumors" - just click-bait, but they were click-bait for teams that I had never thought of as a fit for Simons.

There does not seem to be much to this "rumor".  I don't think it means much.  Most of the reports have been that BOS is trying to trade Simons, but no one is interested, which probably is equally false.  It is all conjecture.  The truth could be that Simons is already traded but they are waiting for some restrictions to expire, it could be that BOS is not even trying to trade him and wants to give him a look, or anything in between.

If it is true that BOS is trying but there are no good offers, I say fine, give him a look and wait to trade him at the deadline.  No reason to do a bad trade or a salary dump trade now.  I am actually looking forward to seeing him on the Celtics.  I see it as a good chance for him to showcase himself for his pending free agency.  He should understand that he needs to show the league he can play well, on both sides of the ball, if he wants to get paid.  This is a good opportunity for him to do just that.  Worst case, just do the salary dump trade later, but I don't think it will come to that.

[Vermont Green]

Guess it's guilty until proven innocent these days. Just like the good 'ol Deflategate from NFL. Beasley should take the responsible party to court for defamation and hindering him from having a bigger contract.

What was the untrue statement, though?

I don't know the details of course, but if he was investigated and found to have not committed a crime, I would think teams would be fine with signing him.  Look at Trump, he would just be screaming "totally vindicated".  Now he may have been involved in something or maybe nothing at all, hard to know, but it is going to be hard for him to get past the stigma that is now attached to him for a while.

The truth is that this will hang over him and he also missed out on opportunities that are just not there anymore at this point in the off season.  I never really liked Beasley's game, at least not as a fit on the Celtics, but I would be OK to signing him on a 1+1 deal.  All BOS can offer is a min contract but that may be what he needs to take.  If he has a good season, all will be forgotten.

[Roy H.]

Malik Beasley isn?t out of the water with a federal gambling investigation?yet. Beasley is no longer the ?target? of the Easter District of New York probe, ESPN reported Friday, potentially opening the door for the 3-point specialist to sign with a team with a month to go before NBA training camps open. Investigators are reportedly focusing on a handful of games during Beasley?s tenure with the Bucks from the 2023?24 season in which at least one prominent U.S. sportsbook detected unusual prop bet activity, according to ESPN. To federal prosecutors, ?target? has a specific and narrow technical definition. The Department of Justice defines a ?target?as ?a person as to whom the prosecutor or the grand jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defendant.? But Beasley is still considered a ?subject? of the investigation, according to a source with knowledge of it. The Department of Justice defines a subject as ?a person whose conduct is within the scope of the grand jury?s investigation,? which means Beasley could still be charged with a crime, something his lawyers have acknowledged.