With just a few weeks to go until the NBA regular season, front offices are evaluating their rosters and determining who remains on the team. The [Cleveland Cavaliers](http://fearthesword.com) are of course, no exception, even if their roster remains mostly set in stone. But there is one impact free agent still on the board, though he comes with a gigantic question mark.
The Cavs are reportedly still keeping tabs on sharpshooting wing Malik Beasley, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Beasley is still a [“subject” (but not a target)](/cavs-rumors/38664/cavs-free-agent-malik-beasley-nba-investigation-cleveland-cavaliers) for his alleged involvement in a sports gambling probe and has no timetable for a return to NBA action, as he may still need clearance from the league before signing. Cleveland is one of several teams that have been linked to Beasley, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons.
The Cavs’ situation is a little more limited in terms of potential financial compensation, as they can only give Beasley the veteran minimum. There are other teams, including the Pistons, that can offer Beasley more money as well as significant playing time. Detroit also employed Beasley last year, to great effect.
Then there is the issue of roster crunch, which the Cavs are also dealing with. Recently-signed Thomas Bryant has a non-guaranteed contract to be the backup center, bringing Cleveland’s total roster count to 14. That leaves just one opening, something the Cavs have traditionally kept for “break glass in case of emergencies” situations. With Beasley’s legal situation still very much up in the air, there is plenty of risk in waiting for him to be cleared by the league. Then there is the consideration that he would need ramp-up time, coupled with the likely regression from his historic Sixth-Man of the Year finalist season last year, which was an outlier in Beasley’s career.
Still, the Cavs would be foolish to not be keeping an eye on Beasley. Cleveland has title aspirations and should be turning over every leaf to provide a competitive advantage. And if Beasley is even 80% of what he was last year in Motown, the Cavs would be getting an incredibly valuable player.