Roundup
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks
Beasley scandal clouds Bucks’ winless start — Central Division roundup
The Milwaukee Bucks drop to 0-3 and see Malik Beasley at the center of a gambling scandal, while the Cavaliers and Pistons set the early tone in the Central Division.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
It was a rough day on and off the court for the Milwaukee Bucks, who remain winless and are back in the spotlight over an alleged gambling scheme involving a former guard.
Milwaukee Bucks: 0-3 start and Beasley in legal trouble
The Bucks dropped a 127-116 decision to the Philadelphia 76ers, slipping to 0-3 in the Central Division standings. As the on-court results lag, off-court news is adding another layer of turbulence. Hoops Rumors, citing reporter Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic, reports that veteran guard Malik Beasley will plead guilty to federal charges alleging he manipulated his play with Milwaukee during the 2023/24 season as part of a sports gambling scheme. The case no longer concerns the current roster, but it casts an unflattering light on the recent environment around the franchise.
In a separate note from Jake Fischer’s Substack column, relayed by Hoops Rumors, Milwaukee reportedly turned down an opportunity before the roster cutdown deadline to acquire Kevin Porter Jr. from the Nuggets. The proposed deal would have sent Porter to the Bucks in exchange for two future second-round picks, a second-round pick swap and Zeke Nnaji. Milwaukee chose not to pursue that additional depth option.
Cleveland Cavaliers: first win of the season
On the floor, the day’s bright spot in the Central came from Cleveland. The Cavaliers secured their first victory of the season, edging the Brooklyn Nets 125-121. That result lifts Cleveland to 1-1 and keeps the Cavs firmly in the mix in what remains an open division at this early stage.
Pistons, Pacers and Bulls: holding steady, eyes on the G League
The Detroit Pistons stay atop the Central at 2-0 despite being idle, while the Indiana Pacers (1-1) and Chicago Bulls (1-2) were also off. All three benefit from Milwaukee’s continued slide at the bottom of the standings.
On the development side, Hoops Rumors notes that the 2026/27 NBA G League draft was held Saturday afternoon, distributing the rights to players who were not yet tied to an affiliate. The Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G League team, held the No. 1 overall pick. Affiliates connected to Central Division franchises also added to their talent pools, a factor that can matter over the grind of a long season.