DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 26: Malik Beasley #5 of the Detroit Pistons looks to the Boston Celtics bench after making a three-point basket during the fourth quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 26, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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After reports surfaced that he is no longer a target in a federal gambling investigation, Malik Beasley is now one of the most highly coveted remaining free agents.
Not only is Beasley a proven marksman, but he’s also fresh off a career year with the Detroit Pistons that saw him finish second in Sixth Man of the Year (6MOY) voting.
By the numbers, one could argue he was the Pistons’ second-best player. Mind you, that is the same team that gave the New York Knicks all they could handle in the first round of the 2025 Playoffs.
Clearly, Beasley is the kind of player who can impact winning at a high level. So, monitoring his next move will be worthwhile. But where is he likely to go?
How Much Is Beasley Worth?
Based on my formula for estimating production value, if Beasley mimicked his production from last year in 2025-26, he’d be worth roughly $27.4 million. Admittedly, this model likely overvalues Beasley because he’s coming off one of the greatest shooting seasons in NBA history (see chart below), and he didn’t miss a single game. In reality, he is probably closer to $15-20 million dollar player at this point in time. The Pistons were reportedly negotiating a three-year, $42 million contract before the federal investigation began.
Unfortunately, due to the timing of the gambling investigation, Beasley missed out on the opportunity to fully capitalize on his career year. Now, he must navigate a market that is scarce in spending power.
After adding Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert, the Pistons can only offer Beasley $7.2 million next season. Since Beasley originally signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Pistons in 2024, they only have non-Bird rights on him. Had they had Full Bird rights on him, they would have been able to offer Beasley more, even with their other acquisitions.
Here is a list of other teams that can match this amount or go even higher (using other salary cap tools like the Mid-Level Exception).
Also, keep in mind that most teams can still offer Beasley a veteran minimum contract ($3.3 million based on his level of experience). So, if Beasley is really keen on a certain situation, he can take a massive pay cut to play there.
What Teams Make The Most Sense For Beasley?
Beasley has an offensive skillset that portends well on most teams. He’s a great shooter/spacer that hardly needs the ball in his hands to do any damage (71% of shots came after one dribble or less, per NBA.com). So, fit isn’t much of a consideration here. With that said, it would be better for him to join a team with a strong creator or two (to set him up) and a strong defensive infrastructure (because he isn’t an elite perimeter defender himself).
There isn’t much reason for young teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, and Charlotte Hornets to go after him. That eliminates them from the list. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls already have similar players on their roster in Isaiah Joe and Kevin Huerter, making it unlikely that they will go after him, either. The Sacramento Kings could use a sniper like Beasley, but they already have more guards than they know what to do with. It would be much wiser for them to use their $7.3 million Non-Taxpayer MLE on a frontcourt player, but then again, no one ever accused that front office of being wise.
This leaves us with the Pistons, Indiana Pacers, and Miami Heat. Obviously, the Pistons would love to bring the fan favorite back. And after losing Tyrese Haliburton for the entirety of the 2025-26 season, the Pacers could use some extra offensive firepower. However, they may want to dish out the extra minutes to Ben Sheppard and Johnny Furphy. The Miami Heat are a realistic contender because they could be wanting to fill the void left by the departure of Robinson.
Outside of those teams, I’d also keep an eye on the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
I personally really like the idea of Beasley signing with the Blazers. They are a great defensive team with some interesting creators in Deni Avdija and Scoot Henderson, with a serious need for outside shooting (26th in 3-point % last season). I also like his fit with the Knicks, but I feel like everyone is talking about that. So, I won’t regurgitate that discourse right now.
My best guess is that Beasley chooses to run it back with the Pistons on a one-year deal before trying to cash out in free agency in the Summer of 2026. At the end of the day, though, many teams will be vying for the services of Beasley, and it will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
