Malik Beasley Negotiates $2 Million Contract with Partizan Belgrade

Free agent swingman Malik Beasley is in advanced negotiations for a contract with Partizan Belgrade that would cover the remainder of the season. According to Dusan Markovic of Nova.rs, the potential deal is valued at approximately $2 million and notably does not include an opt-out clause for returning to the NBA.

Beasley, 29, had a standout season with the Pistons, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 16.3 points per game. He achieved a personal best with a shooting percentage of 41.3 percent from three-point range and was a runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year. Prior to free agency, the Pistons had discussions regarding a three-year contract worth $42 million with Beasley. However, those negotiations fell through following the revelation of a federal investigation into potential illegal betting activities involving Beasley.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York initiated the inquiry in June 2023, just before the start of free agency, leaving Beasley uncertain about his future in the NBA. Although he was not named in the October indictments that led to the arrests of Terry Rozier of the Miami Heat and Chauncey Billups, head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Beasley remains in a precarious situation. He has yet to be cleared by federal investigators or the NBA, which is conducting its own review.

This ongoing uncertainty has hindered Beasley’s chances of securing an NBA contract, leading to strong interest from teams in Europe and China, as reported by Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. The Pistons and Cavaliers are among the NBA teams closely monitoring Beasley’s situation.

Partizan Belgrade competes in the ABA League and EuroLeague, currently holding a record of 5–9 in EuroLeague play. The team features former NBA players such as Shake Milton and Jabari Parker, adding to its competitive edge in European basketball.

As Beasley navigates this pivotal moment in his career, the outcome of his negotiations with Partizan Belgrade could significantly influence his future in professional basketball.