Should the Pistons Change Their Mind About Malik Beasley?

Eventually, it was revealed that Beasley was no longer the focal point of the investigation. Once the NBA launched its own investigation, Beasley was back under a microscope.

Recently, the veteran sharpshooter stated confidence in the idea that he’ll be cleared and back in the league soon. After speaking with his lawyer, Beasley was advised to “hold off on talking points” until he’s certainly clear.

“Unfortunatley, my lawyer said it’s best I hold off on my talking points until I’m 1000000% clear,” Beasley said on social media late last week. “I have to edit the video and do a re-drop tonight. However, it’s in the best interest for me. Thank you for being patient with me. I’ll go live today when the video is released."

Should the Pistons Still Have Eyes on Beasley?

With an open roster spot, the Pistons can make an offer to Beasley, but they can’t get him the same deal they were initially expected to offer. If Beasley were open to another short-term contract with the Pistons, it could be a win-win scenario for both sides.

There’s no denying that the Beasley-Detroit pairing was stellar. The Pistons benefited from having one of the best bench players in the game. If it wasn’t for Payton Pritchard in Boston, Beasley would be recognized as the Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-2025.

On a personal level, Beasley had his best full season with the Pistons. While he averaged over 19 points in two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, he achieved those averages in 14 and 37 games in each of those seasons. With the Pistons, Beasley produced 16.3 points per game in 82 matchups. It was the only time he averaged over 13 points while playing in more than 40 games.

Considering Beasley was on pace to earn around $40 million with his new contract before the investigation shook up his offseason, another one-year trial might be his best bet again. Multiple teams were reportedly interested, including the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Beasley could have options, which helps his market.

As the situation seems to be trending in the right direction, the Pistons should still strongly consider pairing with the sharpshooter for a second season.