Report: Cavs continue to express interest in Malik Beasley

The Cavaliers are back in the mix for free agent shooting guard Malik Beasley, according to a new report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

Beasley has yet to sign anywhere as he awaits formal clearance from the NBA in connection with a gambling investigation, though multiple reports over the past month suggest he’s already been cleared of wrongdoing.

The league is said to be conducting additional due diligence to determine if he had any “connections” to the matter beyond what’s been established.

In the meantime, the Cavs’ need for perimeter shooting has only grown. With Max Strus expected to miss three to four months following foot surgery, Cleveland’s rotation has lost its most reliable floor spacer. Beasley, 28, could offer instant help.

He’s coming off a breakout season in Detroit, where he hit 319 three-pointers, a number topped by only five players in NBA history. Beasley also finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting, thriving in a microwave-scoring role in reserve.

The challenge, of course, is financial. Cleveland currently owns the highest payroll in the league and sits above the second apron, meaning any move to add Beasley would require some salary maneuvering. The Cavs can only offer the veteran’s minimum, the same as New York and other reportedly interested clubs.

Still, if Beasley is ultimately cleared, there’s an argument to be made that his combination of shooting volume and efficiency might be worth the roster gymnastics — especially for a team with championship aspirations and at least a small hole on the wing.