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The Knicks previously reached out to Malik Beasley’s camp and are viewed as a “potential” option by the 3-point marksman after he’s reportedly no longer being targeted by the FBI in a gambling probe, a league source says.
Beasley, perhaps the top unrestricted free agent on the market, should have more lucrative options than the Knicks, who only have the veteran’s minimum to spend.
It makes them a long shot considering multiple teams — including the Pistons, Nets, Pacers and Kings, among others — can offer considerably more money.
But Beasley does come with baggage, or potential red flags.
He was part of a federal investigation allegedly involving NBA games and prop bets.
As a result, Beasley’s three-year, $42 million deal — negotiated this offseason to return to the Pistons — was removed from the table.
This week, Beasley’s attorneys said conversations with investigators determined their client was no longer a target.
But the probe also unearthed unflattering media stories about Beasley allegedly incurring several debts, including a $5.8 million judgment ordered against the shooting guard from a lawsuit filed by a lender.
Beasley was also sued by his former agent for breach of contract.
“Months after this investigation commenced, Malik remains uncharged and is not the target of this investigation,” Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, told reporters Friday. “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.”
Beasley, the runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year, averaged over 16 points for the Pistons last season while finishing second in the NBA in total 3-pointers.
The 28-year-old, a teammate of Karl-Anthony Towns for three seasons in Minnesota, shot 41.6 percent from deep as a floor spacer for Detroit’s Cade Cunningham.
He played a prominent role in the Pistons’ first-round series against the Knicks, pushing himself as a villain in MSG before his squad fell in six games.
The Knicks have no cap space and used their midlevel exception to sign power forward Guerschon Yabusele.
Barring a trade, they have room to sign one veteran and one rookie to standard contracts.
They can also fill up to three two-way contracts.
Per sources, the Knicks expressed interest in free agents Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon and Ben Simmons, though we’ve heard conflicting information about whether it was genuine for Simmons.
