Malik Beasley’s Uncertain Future
Malik Beasley’s future with the Detroit Pistons, or any other NBA franchise, remains unclear as he faces a federal inquiry regarding his potential connection to gambling activities and prop bets. Recently, Beasley, who is 28 years old, learned that he has been evicted from his downtown Detroit apartment, according to a report from Robert Snell of the Detroit News.
Legal Troubles and Eviction
This eviction comes after a legal order was enacted in the 36th District Court, following a lawsuit filed against him that alleged non-payment of rent for his residence at The Stott, a high-rise owned by Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock Detroit.
In total, Beasley is facing two lawsuits concerning unpaid rent that amounts to $21,500. In one of these cases, he did not respond to allegations claiming he owed $7,355, which resulted in a default judgment issued by Judge Andrew Bradley-Baskin. Presently a free agent, Beasley was reportedly close to finalizing a three-year, $42 million deal with the Pistons before news of the federal investigation transpired.
Ongoing Legal Issues
Despite these legal troubles, Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, highlighted that his client has yet to face any criminal charges. Concurrently, he is also dealing with a lawsuit from Hazan Sports Management Group, which asserts that he is liable for $650,000 for breach of contract after cutting ties with them.
Determination to Play
Nevertheless, Beasley remains determined to play in the upcoming NBA season, whether that be with the Pistons or potentially other teams that have shown interest in him. Over the last month, he has taken to social media to showcase his intense training regimen in Miami, alongside his experiences at nightclubs and travels around Europe.
In a recent Snapchat post, he proclaimed, “We gotta be prepared to come back to the Pistons, or, like I said, there’s some other teams interested as well”.
The guard also addressed swirling media speculation, stating,
“People were saying some crazy things and judging me. I’ll tell you one thing, I have a chip on my shoulder. I’m ready to destroy anyone in front of me, and I’m ready to prove again I belong in this league.”
Pistons’ New Acquisitions
In the meantime, the Pistons have seemingly turned the page by acquiring guard Caris LeVert during free agency and orchestrating a sign-and-trade for Duncan Robinson, who appears to take over Beasley’s role as a three-point shooting option off the bench. Last season, Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc across 366 attempts, ranking as the Pistons’ third-leading scorer and contributing to the team’s return to the playoffs after previously holding the NBA’s worst record. His performance also secured him a second-place finish in the NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.
