Veteran NBA guard Malik Beasley is in plea negotiations with Justice Department lawyers on federal charges that he rigged his game with Bucks during the 2023/24 season in the sports gambling scheme, Mike Varkunow of The Athletic reports.
Beasley was accused in June by the Justice Department on charges of sports betting, money laundering and fraud. Beasley initially pleaded not guilty, but court records Friday night indicated he intends to change his plea.
Steve Haney, Beasley’s attorney, told Varkunov that Beasley has not yet decided whether he will plead guilty. Beasley is expected to make a final decision early next week.
According to the indictment, Beasley allegedly manipulated bets on his games against the Cavaliers on January 26, 2024, the Hornets on February 27, 2024, the Clippers on March 10, 2024 and the Nets on March 21, 2024.
Beasley played in 79 games (77 starts) with Milwaukee that season before signing a one-year contract with the Pistons. Beasley had a stellar 2024/25 season, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 16.3 points, finishing second in the Sixth Man Award voting.
He was poised to re-sign a three-year, $42 million deal with the Pistons before the team learned he was under federal investigation. Beasley did not play in the NBA last season.
Edward Daviesalso a former NBA veteran, was also indicted and allegedly helped run the scheme. Beasley, according to the indictment, went into gambling debt and took out a loan from Davis to pay off the millions of dollars he owed. Beasley and Davis were Timberwolves teammates in the 2020/21 season.
They and four other men were charged in the case. Davis pleaded not guilty. Paolo Zamorano, Beasley’s former agent, also pleaded not guilty. Three more involved in the case have pleaded guilty or will plead guilty.
Beasley and Davis are the fourth and fifth former NBA players to be charged by federal prosecutors in the illegal sports gambling investigation, joining the Terry Rozier, Jontay Porterand Damon Jones. Porter was permanently banned from the NBA after a league investigation found he disclosed confidential information to bettors. Jones also pleaded guilty in his case. Rosier is scheduled to go on trial in February.
