The New York Knicks have competition in their pursuit of free agent guard Malik Beasley, who was recently cleared in a federal gambling investigation.
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cleveland Cavaliers have also expressed interest in the 27-year-old sharpshooter, joining the Knicks in monitoring his market. Both teams, however, can only offer Beasley a veteran’s minimum deal.
Knicks’ Longstanding Interest
Beasley has ties to the Knicks’ front office. In 2020, Gersson Rosas — then president of basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves — signed Beasley to a four-year, $60 million contract. Rosas now serves as New York’s senior vice president of basketball operations, giving the Knicks an established connection to the guard.
The Knicks’ interest was reignited shortly after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Friday that Beasley was no longer under federal scrutiny. SNY’s Ian Begley added that the team had performed background work on him, while Jake Fischer of “The Stein Line” confirmed the Knicks’ level of interest in his latest 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. He added that the launch of the investigation derailed a planned three-year, $42 million deal between Beasley and the Detroit Pistons when free agency began.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Post also reported that the Knicks have touched base with Beasley’s camp.
Career Year in Detroit
Beasley is coming off a career year with Detroit. The 6-foot-4 guard finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting last season after averaging 16.3 points across all 82 games. He also set a franchise record with 319 made 3-pointers, showcasing his value as an instant scoring option off the bench or alongside starters.
The Knicks have explored acquiring Beasley before. They considered a move in 2020, but the Timberwolves retained him. In 2023, New York engaged in trade talks with the Utah Jazz about a package involving Beasley and forward Jarred Vanderbilt for Evan Fournier, though no deal materialized.
New York has also been linked this summer to other backcourt options, including Ben Simmons and Landry Shamet, as the team looks to add depth and scoring off the bench.
Other Potential Suitors
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, are in a similar position to the Knicks. Both teams sit at the top of ESPN Bet’s Eastern Conference odds at +800, but lack financial flexibility beyond minimum offers. That leaves the door open for other suitors with more cap space to enter the chase.
Detroit, Beasley’s most recent team, retains his non-Bird rights and can offer up to $7.2 million despite already signing Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.
Other teams with greater spending power include Brooklyn, with $15 million in cap room, and Chicago, Washington and Charlotte, each with the $14.1 million non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Indiana, adjusting for Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles injury, still has $13.5 million available. Defending champion Oklahoma City can spend up to $8.5 million, while Miami and Sacramento each hold $7.3 million of their MLE.
Beasley, who averaged 11.7 points across nine NBA seasons with five teams, has become one of the league’s most prolific volume shooters. With his legal situation now behind him, he could be among the most impactful late-summer additions on the market.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Knicks Face Stunning Twist in Malik Beasley Chase appeared first on Heavy Sports.