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Pistons Rookie Predicted to Get Larger Role Amid Malik Beasley Investigation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zachary Rainey | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 5:51 PM ET

The Detroit Pistons are gearing up for free agency with much on the line. They're coming off a season in which they went 44-38 and clinched a spot in the NBA Playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference. It was their first trip back to the playoffs since 2019 and they earned their first playoff wins since 2008.

To ensure that this season wasn't just a one-year wonder, the Pistons will need to be active this offseason if they want to build upon the year they just had. Instead of falling to the Knicks in the opening round, the Pistons hope to put a team together that can go even further next season.

NBA analyst predicts larger role for rookie amid Malik Beasley investigation

The Pistons had only one selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, the No. 37 pick in the second round. With the pick, the Pistons selected Tennessee's Chaz Lanier. Lanier played at North Florida before transferring to the SEC, where he averaged 18 points per game last season.

NBA Analyst Kevin O'Connor believes Lanier could see a bigger role than speculated initially, after it was announced that Malik Beasley is the subject of a federal gambling investigation.

"Welp! Chaz Lanier may end up with a much larger role than anticipated, but he’s very much like Malik Beasley," wrote O'Connor.

Welp! Chaz Lanier may end up with a much larger role than anticipated, but he’s very much like Malik Beasley. https://t.co/sXm4IsrKFl pic.twitter.com/0Hiwowto4V
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 29, 2025

At 6-foot-4, mixed with his 40% shooting clip from 3-point land in his career, it's easy to see Detroit's vision for Lanier. At 23.5 years old, Lanier will be one of the older rookies, but should be able to hold up well against NBA size and speed after playing in one of the best basketball conferences in the nation last season.

If the Pistons decide to move on from Beasley after this news, that could open the door for Lanier's playing time. They'll see what he's got when they participate in the summer league, but Lanier could prove to be a silver lining to an otherwise ugly situation.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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