Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during an NBA playoff series in April in Detroit. (Duane Burleson / Associated Press)
Players placing bets on games is taboo. Innumerable sports fans were educated on this point in 1989 when hits king Pete Rose received a lifetime ban from Major League Baseball for betting on games while he was a manager.
Or upon watching “Eight Men Out,” the 1988 film about MLB’s Black Sox Scandal in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox conspired with gamblers to lose the 1919 World Series.
Or from recent incidents, including Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley’s suspension in 2022 for a year for betting on NFL games and Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban in 2024 for betting on NBA games, giving gamblers confidential information and taking himself out of a game to affect bets.
Rose’s ban was rescinded this year, but not until after he died, with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred reasoning that the lifetime part of the ban was no longer applicable.
Former Lakers guard Malik Beasley presumably can take solace in being alive Friday when he learned that he is no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation that his attorneys said harmed his reputation and cost him millions in potential earnings.
Attorneys Steve Haney and Mike Schachter told ESPN that they were informed by the court conducting the investigation that Beasley is not suspected of gambling on NBA games during the 2023-24 season.
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney told ESPN. “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.”
It was reported one day before the official start of free agency in June that Beasley was under investigation by the Eastern District of New York. And, yes, Beasley was a free agent after averaging 16.3 points a game with the Detroit Pistons and setting a franchise record with 319 three-pointers.
Result? The three-year, $42-million contract the Pistons had on the table to bring back the 28-year-old nine-year veteran was rescinded. Other suitors turned their backs as well.
Two months later, most teams have spent the money for free agents. The maximum Beasley can re-sign with the Pistons for is one year and $7.2 million. Several other teams can offer a deal worth roughly twice that much, but Beasley likely will sign for one-year.
Beasley posted a SnapChat story Aug. 6 before he had been exonerated, and he couldn’t help but sound bitter.
“People are judging me,” he said on the video. “Have I made some mistakes in my life? Yes. Am I proud of those mistakes? No. I’m human, but I know what I know… I just gotta stay positive, stay low key.
“I’ll tell you one thing, I’ve got a chip on my shoulder. I’m ready to destroy anything in front of me to prove again that I belong in this league. For those who know me, I work too hard. I work every day. I put basketball before anything.”
Beasley pleaded guilty to a felony charge of threats of violence and was sentenced to 120 days in jail in 2020. The NBA suspended him for 12 games. The three-point-shooting expert played 24 games for the Lakers in the 2022-23 season, averaging 11.1 points a game.
Beasley drew the attention of the gambling investigation when a sportsbook detected heavy betting on his statistics beginning in January 2024, according to ESPN.
A Jan. 31 game involving the Milwaukee Bucks — the team Beasley played for at the time — raised suspicions, according to ESPN’s gambling industry source. The odds on Beasley recording fewer than 2.5 rebounds shortened significantly at sportsbooks leading up to the game. Beasley, however, finished with six rebounds, and those suspicious bets lost.
The Stein Line’s NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Friday that Golden State would consider trading for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar if the Warriors first can get Jonathan Kuminga to agree to a flexible, team-friendly two-year contract.
“Who would the Warriors potentially pursue in trades if Kuminga were to relent and take their two-year offer?” Fischer wrote. “As long as LeBron James’ future in Los Angeles remains uncertain, Golden State will undoubtedly be mentioned as a potential James suitor.
“I’m told that the Warriors have called the Lakers on multiple occasions over the past 18 months to see whether there is any trade pathway to pairing James with Stephen Curry, who roughly a year ago at this time was teaming with LeBron for the United States senior men’s national team on its run to a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.”
Fischer added that Curry and James, despite their NBA Finals history as classic rivals, “enjoy[ed] their experience as teammates on the international stage” as members of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
That iconic era, of course, ended nearly a year ago with the Americans bringing gold back to the States, notably under Golden State coach Steve Kerr.
Whether or not Kuminga returns to the Bay is yet to be determined. However, if he does, it sounds like the Warriors will, against the 22-year-old’s wishes, dangle him as bait while going for a big catch.
“The Warriors, furthermore, are known for their penchant to go big-game hunting, starting with their original pursuit of Durant in the summer of 2016 and carrying through to their February acquisition of [Jimmy] Butler,” Fischer wrote.
The only time Curry and James were teammates ended as amazingly as it possibly could have. Golden State is right to continue kicking the tires on bringing the unreal international tandem to the Bay.
Malik Beasley is reportedly no longer a target of the federal gambling investigation that prevented the free agent guard from signing with a team this summer, and the Knicks have done some background work on the bench scorer.
The Knicks are among the teams that have done background work on Beasley’s situation and the likelihood of a suspension during the 2025-26 NBA season, SNY’s NBA Insider Ian Begley reported.
Attorneys representing Beasley held extensive conversations with the Eastern District of New York and have been informed their client is not being considered a target for the investigation, which centers around a gambling ring on NBA games and prop bets from the 2023-24 season, the attorneys told ESPN.
The nine-year NBA veteran was never charged during the course of the investigation.
The Knicks have already added veteran guard Jordan Clarkson to provide some bench help this offseason, looking to bolster a unit that constantly left much to be desired under previous head coach Tom Thibodeau.
New York can offer the 28-year-old Beasley the veteran’s minimum. Of course, it is expected that Beasley will garner strong interest from teams that can offer more than the Knicks.
Before the investigation was known, the Pistons, who Beasley played for last season, were prepared to offer him a three-year, $42 million deal to re-sign. The NBA informed several clubs before free agency began of the investigation involving Beasley, and Detroit pivoted to other players.
In 82 games (18 starts) last year with the Pistons, Beasley averaged 16.3 points on 43 percent shooting (41.6 percent from three) with 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 27.8 minutes. He averaged 14 points on 37.3 percent shooting (33.9 from three) in the six-game first-round playoff series against the Knicks. The guard finished a distant second place for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, behind Boston’s Payton Pritchard.
After being drafted by Denver with the 19th overall pick in 2016, Beasley has bounced around the NBA with stints in Minnesota, Utah, Los Angeles (Lakers), Milwaukee, and Detroit.
Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo has been in the major leagues for less than a week, but the team likes what it has seen from the young star. Basallo reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $67 million extension with the club on Friday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The deal — which goes into effect next season — can max out at $88.5 million based on incentives and is the largest pre-arbitration extension ever given to a catcher, per Passan.
The contract also reportedly contains a club option.
The move comes just days after Basallo, 21, made his major-league debut. The young catcher entered the 2025 season as a consensus top-15 prospect, but the Orioles opted to wait until late August to call him up.
Basallo has acquitted himself well since his call-up, hitting .286 in his first 15 plate appearances. Prior to his promotion, Basallo hit .270/.377/.589 over 321 plate appearances at Triple-A in 2025.
The reported extension seems to suggest that the Orioles view Basallo as their catcher of the future. That could put former top prospect Adley Rutschman in a tough spot once he’s ready to return from an oblique injury.
Rutschman, once considered the top overall prospect in the game, got off to a tremendous start to his career. During his first two years in the majors, Rutschman slashed .268/.369/.439. But injuries have limited his effectiveness over the past two seasons, in which he has posted a .242/.315/.385 slash line.
Rutschman, who has battled oblique injuries all season, was placed on the injured list Thursday due to yet another oblique strain. The move puts the remainder of his 2025 season in jeopardy and opens the door for Basallo to serve as the team’s primary catcher down the stretch. While the Orioles aren’t playing for a spot in the postseason, Basallo has five more weeks to prove he deserves a starting spot on the team next season.
Basallo’s promotion and extension don’t necessarily mean the team has soured on Rutschman. The Orioles could rotate both players next season or use one as their primary DH and the other as their starting catcher.
But if Basallo produces in his 2025 audition, the Orioles could have some interesting roster decisions to make in the offseason.
I’m going to start the article in an unusual fashion, by talking about someone who you shouldn’t pick up in fantasy baseball. Bubba Chandler, who is arguably baseball’s best pitching prospect, could make his Major League debut on Friday.
Sounds like an easy player to add, right? Not so fast. Chandler struggled with his control skills in Triple-A this year, which resulted in a 4.05 ERA and 1.48 WHIP. I could look past those numbers and add the youngster on the basis of his elite skill set, but I can’t look past the Pirates’ plans to use him as a bulk reliever. That role will leave Chandler without the necessary volume to rack up large strikeout totals. And he will have low odds of earning wins in that role, especially since he’s playing for baseball’s lowest scoring team. In late August, I want pitchers who can help me right now. Unfortunately, that’s not Chandler.
Now, let’s look at some players who you should add.
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Adds
Miguel Andujar, 3B/OF, Reds, 37%: Andujar was quietly one of the biggest winners of the trade deadline, as an under-the-radar deal with the Athletics has resulted in the 30-year-old emerging as the Reds cleanup hitter. He has been excellent in August (.383 BA, 3 HR, 1.102 OPS) and should be active in most leagues while he has such a key role on a team with postseason aspirations and a hitter-friendly home park.
Jo Adell, OF, Angels, 37%: The roster rate for Adell is perplexing. After all, we are talking about someone who has recorded 21 homers and 54 RBI since June 1, which places him seventh in each of those categories over that stretch. Sure, Adell isn’t an on-base machine, but he is a premium power hitter who should be rostered in twice as many leagues.
Samuel Basallo, C/1B, Orioles, 27%: Basallo was one of the best Triple-A hitters this season, producing 23 homers and a .966 OPS in 76 games. He has recently joined the Orioles and should play regularly down the stretch, especially with Adley Rutschman going to the injured list with an oblique strain. Although 2025 has been an excellent year for fantasy managers to find production from catchers, Basallo is so talented that he could dent lineups in one-catcher leagues.
Dylan Beavers, OF, Orioles, 6%: Although Basallo was the headliner of Baltimore’s recent prospect promotions, Beavers could also make significant contributions down the stretch. The 24-year-old has the diverse skill set that fantasy managers covet, having hit .304 with 18 homers and 23 steals in 94 games at the Triple-A level this year. As is the case with Basallo, Beavers is in line to play everyday while the Orioles plan for 2026 during the stretch run.
Ben Rice, C/1B, Yankees, 51%: New York has arguably the best schedule for offense next week with three games against the Nationals (29th in ERA) and four vs. the White Sox (19th in ERA). Five of the seven contests will come against right-handers, which will suit Rice, who has recorded an .849 OPS against righties this year. Outfielder Trent Grisham (21%) is another Yankee to add, as he is working as the team’s leadoff hitter.
Carson Williams, SS, Rays, 6%: A top-50 prospect in virtually every publication, Williams was promoted by the Rays on Thursday when Ha-Seong Kim was placed on the IL. Although the youngster deserves attention in deeper fantasy leagues, managers need to know that he is not yet a complete hitter and much of his prospect ranking comes from his outstanding fielding ability. Williams has an exciting blend of power and speed, having produced 23 homers and 22 steals in 111 games this year. But he could struggle to make contact in the Majors, as he has hit .213 in Triple-A while striking out 154 times. He’s the ultimate boom-or-bust option from this list, and if I was filling a utility spot, I would prefer to add every other hitter in this article.
Cam Schlittler, SP, Yankees, 23%: Schlittler is a terrific two-start pitcher to add for next week, as he will draw matchups against the Nats and White Sox. Facing two teams that sit in last place in their respective divisions gives the rookie excellent win potential, especially since the Yankees offense has emerged from an early August slump. And Schlittler has been effective of late, allowing five runs while racking up 23 strikeouts across 21.2 innings during his past four starts.
Sean Manaea, SP, Mets, 45%: Manaea has produced a mixed bag of results in 36.2 innings since returning from a season-opening IL stint. His 5.15 ERA is keeping him on waivers in many leagues, but his 45:8 K:BB ratio and 1.12 WHIP suggest that the left-hander should soon have more success in preventing runs. Manaea could produce 12-15 strikeouts next week, when he makes appearances at his pitcher-friendly home park against the Phillies and Marlins.
Michael McGreevy, SP, Cardinals, 11%: McGreevy has an awful 5.2 K/9 rate, but his lack of expected strikeouts is less of an issue during a two-start week, which is the case next week. The right-hander opens the week with a favorable matchup against the Pirates, who are the lowest-scoring team in baseball. He wraps things up with a tougher matchup in Cincinnati, but McGreevy has rarely allowed homers this year, which should help his chances at Great American Ball Park. Those who are chasing wins will want to pick him up for the Pirates start alone.
Randy Rodriguez, RP, Giants, 44%: Rodriguez is undoubtedly the most under-rostered pitcher in Yahoo leagues. The right-hander has pitched as well as virtually any reliever this year, logging a 1.63 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 66:11 K:BB ratio. And he has had a firm grip on the closer’s role since Camilo Doval was traded at the deadline. Rodriguez has lacked save chances during the Giants’ recent slump, but San Francisco is a decent team and can play .500 baseball the rest of the way. He’s a top-10 closer option for the remainder of the season.
August is almost over. We’ve just about navigated the quietest month on the NBA calendar (Brad Stevens’ ceaseless roster tinkering, notwithstanding). And while we’re in no rush to wave goodbye to summer, the influx of pumpkin-spice products and way-too-early Oktoberfest beers is a firm reminder that basketball season can’t be far off.
So let’s dust off the Celtics Mailbag and see what’s on your mind:
How do you think Bill Chisholm will do in his first year as owner of the team? — @loganlavallee17 on IG
Before we answer your question, a quick story:
Back in 1986, the Celtics went public. The ownership group at the time sold off 40 percent of the franchise generating $48 million by selling 2.6 million shares at $18.50 per share. My dad, like any opportunistic Celtics fan, bought in.
Probably just a single share. But a few times per year, mail would show up at the house with updates on his investment with “Boston Celtics Limited Partnership” inscribed on all the documents. That the stock basically plummeted in the aftermath of his purchase didn’t matter. My dad owned a (teeny tiny microscopic) piece of the Celtics and, to this little kid, owning the Celtics seemed liked the most amazing gig in the world.
Which is to say that Chisholm is now living the dream of every kid ever born in New England, or whatever part of the world you happen to bleed your green. He paid slightly more than my dad for his majority stake but Celtics fans ought to be thrilled that someone with roots here is at the helm. In our brief interactions since Chisholm emerged in the bidding process, it’s clear just how much of a fan the entire Chisholm family is of Celtics basketball, and he surely understands the responsibility that comes with being the person with the final call on all decisions about the team.
Even before the official transfer of power this week, we had spent a lot of time thinking about what Celtics fans ought to yearn for from a new owner. We were spoiled by the Banner 17 consortium helmed by Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca. They hired smart decision-makers and largely stayed out of their way. They were visible but not in your face in a Jerry Jones-type way. They spent big money whenever the team was positioned to contend. They always kept their focus on the next banner.
They were fans, just like the rest of us.
If Chisholm follows the same road map, he’ll be just fine. He is taking over at a somewhat awkward juncture, both with the Celtics having to tear down the expensive roster that delivered Banner 18, and All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum rehabbing from Achilles surgery.
Our only advice to the Chisholm family would be to stay off social media, tread cautiously when listening to sports radio, and don’t read the YouTube comments. There are invariably going to be fans (and pundits) that don’t take the time to educate themselves on the new NBA landscape and the prohibitive nature of a punitive new collective bargaining agreement. They’ll simply stomp their feet and scream loudly about cost-cutting moves. They’ll invoke Chisholm’s private equity background without stopping to acknowledge the fact that salary cuts were coming regardless of who was at the helm heading into the 2025-26 season.
Chisholm can trust that Stevens, Mike Zarren, and Boston’s creative front office squad will chart a fast track back to contender status. We think it will be good for Chisholm to have Grousbeck around, too. Why not learn from someone who saw a bunch of peaks (and a couple valleys) over 23 years at the helm?
We’re intrigued by the new ownership group. Aditya Mittal, one of the team’s new alternate governors, showed off his deep pockets with a reported billion dollar investment. Bruce Beal has Boston roots and pro sports experience with a minor stake in the Miami Dolphins. Robert Hale brings familiarity from the last ownership group. Mario Ho is a lifelong Celtics fan.
Like any new owner, there will be a natural desire for Chisholm to put his imprint on a new investment. But he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to tinker with what’s worked here. The power structure basically remains intact as he slides into the big chair. Those at multiple levels of the organization that met with Chisholm during the transition process came away raving about his overall enthusiasm for the new gig.
Making money is important and Chisholm has tough decisions to make, including the long-term arena plan for a team that doesn’t currently own its building. But it feels like the Celtics are in good hands with someone that genuinely wants to see the team continue to thrive.
Odds that Tatum comes back this season? — @captainmike617 on IG
It feels like we’re going to have to tackle this question every mailbag this season so let’s not dance around it.
We think there is a 100 percent chance that Tatum is going to attack his rehab with a relentless energy and a desire to beat whatever the generally accepted timeline is for an Achilles rehab. The team 100 percent put Tatum in the best possible position to do such by getting him into surgery just hours after the tear, and with a surgeon known for his expertise and advancements in Achilles repair.
It feels like the team’s reluctance to 1) Set a firm timeline and 2) Formally rule Tatum out for the 2025-26 season, even after a team like the Pacers did just that with Tyrese Haliburton, seems to suggest a desire to avoid putting any limitation on the rehab process. I thought team president Rich Gotham summed it up best when he recently noted, “What I know about JT is he’s going to do everything he can to put us in a position to make a decision.”
Right now, the focus ought to be on getting better every day. Tatum might have even coined the perfect rallying cry for Celtics fans in a recent video update when he noted the grueling nature of the initial rehab but optimistically declared that there are, “Better days ahead.”
I am not 100 percent sure it is in the best interest of the team to put Tatum back on the court this season. I am also 100 percent not a doctor. If he rehabs to the point where it is both safe and beneficial for him to return to NBA action, then why procrastinate? But the state of the team, at the point Tatum might be ready to compete again, could dictate whether that’s a prudent decision.
For now, we’re content to cling to the small glimpses of Tatum’s journey and the progress he’s clearly making.
How do you envision the initial starting lineup, with top 5ish guys all being wings/guards? — @sammy_hall5 on IG
If the Boston Celtics were forced to play an exhibition game on September 1 and Joe Mazzulla foolishly asked me to submit the starting lineup, I’d go: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Neemias Queta. My general thinking: The remaining pieces from your championship core get first crack at starter roles this season.
Mazzulla will be able to mix and match when the team gets on the court in September. Maybe certain combos have better chemistry. Like any overhauled roster, there should be experimentation to figure out what gives this team the best opportunity to succeed.
All that said, we love the idea of Pritchard in the starting role. Every time the Celtics have thrown more on his plate, he’s gobbled it up. There’s little reason to believe he wouldn’t do the same in starter minutes. If Anfernee Simons sticks on the roster, we’re intrigued what he can do as a volume scorer off a new-look bench.
The bottom line is that there’s a whole bunch of opportunity for players throughout the roster and, starter or otherwise, maybe the most intriguing aspect of camp is going to be seeing who grasp that opportunity.
🔊 Celtics Talk Podcast: Payton Pritchard on Celtics’ summer changes, NBA’s new heave rule and Kyrie wanting to swing on him | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube
Is it best for the Celtics to attempt to make the playoffs, or rest Tatum the full year and get into lottery? — @brad_ted on IG
One of our favorite memories of the Brad Stevens era came right after the Celtics acquired Jae Crowder in December 2014. As the Celtics engaged in a relentless roster churn, Crowder basically pinned Stevens against a wall after a practice and asked him if he was OK with losing. Stevens was adamant that tanking wasn’t even a consideration and the Celtics wanted to win games. The Celtics finished 40-42 that season and earned the 7th seed in the East. That team got swept in Round 1 by LeBron James and the Cavaliers, but that season set a tone that allowed the team to truly launch in the aftermath.
Stevens has routinely put a high value on winning and the message that focus sends to a team.
Maybe the Celtics will need to ponder the potential benefits of a lottery pick if things go awry this season. But, out of the gates, the plan should be to see what this group can do. There is still way too much talent here for us to believe that Boston isn’t a playoff team. Maybe injuries and depth issues change that outlook, but we’re pretty bullish on a team that’s helmed by a Brown-White-Pritchard triumvirate.
We think this year’s team could give off 2016-17 Celtics vibes. A spunky group that out kicks ever prognostications. The absence of championship-or-bust expectations ought to let the returning members of the championship core play free.
Let’s see where that takes this group. But our general theme heading into her 2025-26 season is no limitations. Not on Tatum’s rehab, not on the potential of a new-look group.
Which Celtics newcomer are you most excited about? — Celtics Twitter
While we were on vacation we saw a post on X asking Celtcs fans which newcomer they were most excited about. Can we submit a vote for Josh Minott?
With less than 500 total minutes over three seasons in Minnesota, we really don’t know what the still-only 22-year-old is capable of. We love his blend of size, athleticism, and relentless motor. The Lawn Mower is a stellar nickname. On a team that needs size, we’re intrigued to see if Minott can distinguish himself.
Attorneys Steve Haney and Mike Schachter told Charania that the Eastern District of New York determined Beasley is no longer a target following allegations regarding gambling on NBA games and prop bets during the 2023-24 season.
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney told ESPN. “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.”
The Eastern District of New York declined ESPN’s request for comment on the matter on Friday.
News of the investigation came out in June, right as Beasley was about to enter NBA free agency on the heels of a breakout season with the Detroit Pistons. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said at the time that the league was “cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation.”
Beasley, 28, remains an NBA free agent, though Charania reported that several teams have kept in contact with his representation.
Charania previously reported that Beasley and the Pistons were in “serious talks” on a three-year, $42-million contract to keep him in Detroit before the investigation.
Beasley averaged 16.2 points per game and played all 82 regular season games in 2024-25 after signing a one-year deal with the Pistons last offseason.
His previous NBA stops include the Denver Nuggets (2016-20), Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-22), Utah Jazz (2022-23), Los Angeles Lakers (2023) and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-24). He was sentenced to 120 days in jail in 2021 stemming from a felony charge on threats of violence, and was eventually suspended for 12 games by the NBA.
The probe into Beasley came more than a year after Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA over prop bet investigations. Porter eventually pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud, with sentencing set for this December as prosecutors estimate he could get up to four years in prison.
The National Basketball Players Association said Friday that there has been no evidence of a greater, league-wide issue with gambling beyond Porter.
“NBA players compete at the highest level with the utmost integrity and are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person,” an NBPA spokesperson said. “If tighter regulations can help minimize that abuse, then we support taking a closer look at them.”
Attorneys Steve Haney and Mike Schachter told Charania that the Eastern District of New York determined Beasley is no longer a target following allegations regarding gambling on NBA games and prop bets during the 2023-24 season.
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Haney told ESPN. “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.”
The Eastern District of New York declined ESPN’s request for comment on the matter on Friday.
News of the investigation came out in June, right as Beasley was about to enter NBA free agency on the heels of a breakout season with the Detroit Pistons. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said at the time that the league was “cooperating with the federal prosecutors’ investigation.”
Beasley, 28, remains an NBA free agent, though Charania reported that several teams have kept in contact with his representation.
Charania previously reported that Beasley and the Pistons were in “serious talks” on a three-year, $42-million contract to keep him in Detroit before the investigation.
Beasley averaged 16.2 points per game and played all 82 regular season games in 2024-25 after signing a one-year deal with the Pistons last offseason.
His previous NBA stops include the Denver Nuggets (2016-20), Minnesota Timberwolves (2020-22), Utah Jazz (2022-23), Los Angeles Lakers (2023) and Milwaukee Bucks (2023-24). He was sentenced to 120 days in jail in 2021 stemming from a felony charge on threats of violence, and was eventually suspended for 12 games by the NBA.
The probe into Beasley came more than a year after Jontay Porter was banned from the NBA over prop bet investigations. Porter eventually pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud, with sentencing set for this December as prosecutors estimate he could get up to four years in prison.
The National Basketball Players Association said Friday that there has been no evidence of a greater, league-wide issue with gambling beyond Porter.
“NBA players compete at the highest level with the utmost integrity and are concerned that prop bets have become an increasingly alarming source of player harassment, both online and in person,” an NBPA spokesperson said. “If tighter regulations can help minimize that abuse, then we support taking a closer look at them.”
