Injuries To A Couple of Key Players Have One Team Eyeing Malik Beasley

Malik Beasley's free agency didn't quite go the way he'd planned after a strong season with the Detroit Pistons in 2024-25. A federal gambling investigation took him off every team's radar in July, and by the time he was cleared by the feds in late summer, NBA teams had committed their salaries and pretty much filled their rosters.

But there will always be injuries that will open up opportunities, and that seems to be a possibility for Beasley. The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing a couple of key pieces being out of the lineup to start the season, and have kept a close eye on Beasley.

Insider Shams Charania reports:

.@ShamsCharania says the Cavs are monitoring Malik Beasley 👀 pic.twitter.com/OPltty35my
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 8, 2025

“They’re hopeful Darius Garland is back early in the regular season, but Max Strus is going to miss significant time," reported Charania. "That’s why they’re monitoring and have interest in a free agent, that’s Malik Beasley."

The sharpshooter finished second in Sixth Man voting last season averaging 16.2 points per game for the Pistons, with a 41.6% mark from long range.

Beasley's return, however, isn't cut and dried at this point, says Charania. Even though the feds cleared him, the NBA has not as of yet.

“He’s undergoing and still is in an ongoing NBA investigation, one month into the investigation, we’ll see if he’s cleared. He needs that NBA clearance to be able to sign with a team, either the Cavs or elsewhere.”