The Detroit Pistons have an open roster spot and up to seven million to spend if they need to fill it. There is belief they are saving this spot for free agent Malik Beasley, who is still waiting for an end to federal and NBA investigations into gambling allegations. Beasley headlines a group that is full of former Pistons.
Beasley keeps dropping hints about coming back to Detroit, and yesterday said the Pistons were the team he would most likely join when and if he is cleared in these investigations.
The Pistons are perfectly willing to wait it out, as they have started the season 5-2 despite injuries and a rocky offensive start, largely on the back of their domination at the rim. The Pistons are leading the NBA in rim protection and points in the paint, so they are getting it done the Detroit way.
But they still need shooting, so Beasley would be an obvious boost if they can add him to the roster at some point, something he clearly wants, so it’s just a matter of him getting cleared and the Pistons making an offer.
Beasley isn’t the only former Pistons player who is currently looking for a job, as the list of top available free agents includes a lot of guys who used to be in Detroit.
Best available NBA free agents: Former Detroit Pistons everywhere
Bleacher Report put together a list of the top available free agents as of right now, and Malik Beasley was #1 on the list as the best player available. He’s really the only one who had a full-time and important role last season.
Of the 18 players B/R ranked, five of them are former Pistons and include:
#16: Dennis Smith Jr.
#12: Wendell Moore Jr.
#11: Delon Wright
#9: Alec Burks
#1: Malik Beasley
Of these players, Burks seems like the most likely to get a job other than Beasley, as he played 49 games last season and shot 43 percent from 3-point range for the Heat. If someone gets desperate enough for shooting or just a warm body, Burks could get a call.
Dennis Smith Jr. has been out of the league for a year, and Delon Wright played just 40 games last season. It’s a bit surprising that someone hasn’t taken a flyer on Wendell Moore Jr. who showed some promise last season in 20 games for the Pistons, but it really shows the direction the NBA is going under the current tax rules.
Teams would rather have an open roster spot than waste cap space on end of the bench veterans or younger players who aren’t teenagers. It’s all about promise rather than production, which is why some of these guys don’t have jobs while players like Bobi Klintman do.
The NBA isn’t the best players in the world anymore, it’s the best players teams can acquire while staying under the tax apron.
The Pistons are still waiting out the Beasley saga, but if that doesn’t go well, it’s very possible these players have played their last games in the NBA.