The Detroit Pistons’ quiet offseason suddenly got loud last night, and things figure to take a dramatic turn from here after it was announced that Malik Beasley was under investigation for gambling.
I expected to be writing a “Malik Beasley re-signs with Detroit” article later this evening but that will be on hold indefinitely while the Pistons and the rest of the league wait out the investigation.
Some fans have pointed to Terry Rozier as a guy who is still playing while his gambling investigation is going on, but Rozier was already under contract, and it’s unlikely anyone is going to take a risk on Beasley while this is hanging over him.
Beasley is innocent until proven guilty, another thing people need to remember, but these types of allegations are going to scare most teams away, at least for now.
The Pistons were already eyeing several free agents and may now be more inclined to chase them with intent, which Marc Stein reported (Subscription) in regard to Nickeil-Alexander Walker. The Piston are reportedly one of two teams chasing NAW, who is the cousin of the current MVP.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Nickeil-Alexander Walker is a cultural fit
I wanted Detroit to chase NAW even before the Beasley news, but now it seems more likely that they actually will.
Trajan Langdon is well familiar with NAW after their time together in New Orleans and knows his game, which might offer more than people think.
Alexander-Walker is mostly known as a 3-and-D wing at this point, as he is a very good perimeter defender who has leaned into that skill.
He shot 38 percent from 3-point range on 4.5 attempts per game and can defend three positions, so he’d be an upgrade for the Pistons on both ends.
NAW can be more than just a shooter, as he was considered a point guard when he first entered the league with New Orleans and has shown flashes of being able to create and finish at the rim, though it’s not something he does much of for Minnesota.
But he can handle the ball some and isn’t strictly a catch-and-shoot guy. He also digs in on the defensive end, which I love, and he would fit right in with guys like Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart, giving the Pistons’ defense even more of a boost.
With Beasley likely out, the Pistons may as well lean into defense, which was their strength this season, but NAW would also give them a guy who can stretch the floor as a shooter, even if he is not as prolific as Beasley.