Free agent Malik Beasley has reached an agreement to join the Santurce Crabbers, a team owned by Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny, as confirmed by both parties to ESPN’s Shams Charania on Friday.
The season for the team is set to commence in March. Beasley has been the subject of an investigation regarding improper gambling allegations in the NBA since the previous year.
This opportunity allows Beasley to demonstrate his abilities in advance of the 2026 free agency while he awaits a decision regarding the NBA investigation.
The inquiry is related to claims of improper gambling on NBA games and prop bets from the 2023-24 season when Beasley was part of the Milwaukee Bucks, sources informed ESPN.
On June 29, ESPN reported that Beasley, 28, was under federal scrutiny by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. This led to a suspension of all his free agent discussions and offers just one day prior to the official commencement of free agency. At that time, the NBA stated it was cooperating with the investigation.
Two months later, Beasley’s attorney, Steve Haney, informed ESPN that Beasley was not a target and had not faced charges in the federal investigation, which has resulted in four guilty pleas connected to a gambling scheme involving former NBA player Jontay Porter.
According to a source in the gambling industry, at least one U.S. sportsbook noted unusual betting activity on Beasley’s performance statistics starting around January 2024.
The source highlighted a game between the Bucks and the Portland Trail Blazers on January 31, 2024. The odds for Beasley recording fewer than 2.5 rebounds shifted significantly before the game, changing from approximately +120 to -250 due to a spike in betting on the under. Beasley concluded the game with six rebounds, resulting in losses for the bets considered unusual.
