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Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks dribbles against Malik Beasley and Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.
The New York Knicks are exploring a potential target for their remaining veteran minimum slot: guard Malik Beasley, who was recently cleared of federal gambling scrutiny.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that Beasley is no longer the subject of a federal investigation, which had briefly clouded his free agency. Shortly afterward, SNY’s Ian Begley linked the sharpshooter to New York.
“The Knicks are among the teams that have done background work on Malik Beasley’s situation, how likely/unlikely a suspension in 2025-26 was for the free agent,” Begley wrote on X. “ESPN reports that Beasley is no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation. NYK currently has vet min to offer free agents.”
NBA insider Jake Fischer confirmed the report in “The Stein Line” newsletter.
“I’m told that the Knicks have maintained a level of interest in Beasley since the teams met in the first round of the playoffs in May, and now the sharpshooter appears poised to become an unexpected late-summer free agent of note,” Fischer wrote. “The launch of the investigation just as free agency was about to commence led Detroit to scrap plans to sign him to a new three-year, $42 million deal.”
Knicks’ Longstanding Interest and Other Targets
Getty Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons shoots the ball during the first half against the New York Knicks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs.
The Knicks’ interest in Beasley is not new.
Fischer previously reported that New York considered acquiring him during the 2020 offseason, though Beasley ultimately joined the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gersson Rosas, the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations at the time, now serves as the Knicks’ senior vice president for basketball operations, giving Beasley a connection within the organization.
New York revisited the idea in 2023, exploring a trade with then Beasley’s team, the Utah Jazz, that would have sent the sharpshooter and Jarred Vanderbilt to the Knicks in exchange for Evan Fournier, though the deal fell through. The Knicks have also been linked to free agents Ben Simmons and Landry Shamet while seeking veteran depth and scoring punch for the roster.
Beasley, 6-foot-4, finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year race in 2024-25, averaging 16.3 points across all 82 games for the Detroit Pistons. He also set a franchise record with 319 three-pointers, highlighting his ability to provide instant offense off the bench or alongside starters.
Competition for Beasley Could Be Fierce
Despite the Knicks’ interest, several teams could offer more financially. Detroit retains Beasley’s non-Bird rights, allowing the Pistons to offer $7.2 million even after signing Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
Other teams with greater cap flexibility include the Brooklyn Nets, who have $15 million in room, and Chicago, Washington, and Charlotte, each with the full non-taxpayer midlevel exception worth $14.1 million. Eastern Conference champion Indiana, adjusting for Tyrese Haliburton’s torn Achilles, has $13.5 million remaining from its non-taxpayer MLE. Defending champion Oklahoma City can offer $8.5 million, while Miami and Sacramento each have $7.3 million available under their non-taxpayer MLE.
Beasley’s availability adds an unexpected late-summer wrinkle to free agency. For the Knicks, it represents an opportunity to add a proven scoring guard capable of impacting both the bench and starting unit, provided they can match or exceed the financial incentives other teams may offer. With the veteran minimum still available, New York could turn a gamble into a calculated acquisition.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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