Malik Beasley’s return to the Detroit Pistons next season — or any other NBA team — is uncertain amid a federal investigation into his alleged involvement with gambling and prop bets. However, if he was to re-sign with the Pistons, he’ll apparently have to find a different place to live in Detroit.
Beasley, 28, was evicted from his high-rise apartment in Detroit on Wednesday, the Detroit News’ Robert Snell reports. An eviction order was filed in the 36th District Court two months after the guard was sued for failing to pay rent on the downtown Detroit residence.
The NBA guard has been sued twice for not paying a total $21,500 in rent for his apartment at The Stott, the high-rise building owned by Bedrock Detroit, which is part of Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert’s business portfolio.
Beasley did not respond to the second of the lawsuits accusing him of failing to pay $7,355, resulting in a default judgment being filed against him before 36th District Judge Andrew Bradley-Baskin.
The nine-year veteran is currently a free agent and was reportedly set to agree on a three-year, $42 million contract with the Pistons before news of the federal gambling investigation was reported. Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, pointed out to reporters that his client has not been charged with any crime.
Following reports of the gambling probe, Beasley was also sued by Hazan Sports Management Group for breach of contract, alleging he owes the agency $650,000 that was unpaid when he terminated his contract.
Despite the gambling investigation and lawsuits, Beasley insists that he will play in the NBA next season, whether with the Pistons or other teams that have apparently expressed interest. During the past month, he has posted videos on social media of him training in Miami (in addition to going to nightclubs and traveling in Europe).
On Wednesday, he posted a story to Snapchat saying, We gotta be prepared to come back to the Pistons, or, like I said, there’s some other teams interested as well.”
The Pistons appear to have moved on, signing guard Caris LeVert in free agency and working out a sign-and-trade deal for Duncan Robinson, who presumably fills Beasley’s role as a long-range shooter off the bench.
Last season, Beasley averaged 16.3 points and shot 42% on 366 3-point attempts. He was Detroit’s third-leading scorer and appeared in all 82 games as the Pistons returned to the playoffs after finishing with the NBA’s worst record during the previous season. That performance earned him a second-place finish in NBA Sixth Man of the Year voting.
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