Malik Beasley’s agent is pumping the brakes on a report that the former Pistons guard is headed to Serbia.
Serbian outlet Nova reported Sunday that Partizan Belgrade of the Adriatic Basketball Association and EuroLeague is negotiating with Beasley on a deal for the remainder of the season worth $2 million. Nova reported that the deal with Partizan—which has rostered former NBA players like Bogdan Bogdanović and Tristan Vukčević—will not allow Beasley to opt-out if he is to receive an offer to return to the NBA.
Beasley was close to signing a three-year, $42 million deal with the Pistons this past summer before he became involved in a federal gambling investigation. The 29-year-old is no longer a target of the investigation, but he remains unsigned by an NBA team.
Brian Jungreis, Beasley’s agent, tells Front Office Sports that there have been talks with the European club, but the two sides are far from securing a deal.
“These are exaggerated reports. We had conversations and some framework but nowhere close to anything closing or happening for the moment,” Jungreis tells FOS.
He also shot down the idea that Beasley would sign an overseas contract without an option to return to the NBA.
“The report of no NBA out is 100% inaccurate. We’d never not have that in the case he were to play anywhere else than the NBA,” Jungreis said.
In a video posted on social media last month, Beasley admitted that he could play overseas, but has continued to wait for an NBA opportunity.
“I could go overseas right now but I’m not. Like, I want to play in the NBA and I know what I know. I’m just going to stay patient,” Beasley said.
Beasley said in November that while he is eyeing an NBA return, he has not yet been cleared by the NBA. Jungreis confirmed to FOS that Beasley’s camp is “still waiting” for clearance from the league.
Steve Haney, Beasley’s lawyer, told FOS last month that the 9-year NBA veteran is stuck in “investigative purgatory” given the recent gambling-related arrests of Heat guard Terry Rozier and Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups.
The NBA investigated Rozier in 2023, but he played two more seasons before he was arrested in October.
“Given the recent arrests, and the criticism the league has received regarding its investigative ineptness, they are reluctant to take a position on clearing Malik despite him completely complying with the league investigation. Losing over $40m for accusations void of a criminal charge or conviction may be unprecedented in the history [of] pro sports,” Haney said in November.
The report about Beasley’s potential move to Partizan also comes amid significant turmoil for the club. After winning a record eighth ABA championship last year, the club started the season 4–9, leading to the resignation of legendary head coach Željko Obradović late last month.
