The Detroit Pistons opted to not pursue guard Malik Beasley after reports of an FBI investigation, a pivot Trajan Langdon called 'disappointing'
Unforeseen circumstances forced the Detroit Pistons to pivot away from their initial offseason plan. More than a week later, they appear satisfied with how things played out.
Malik Beasley appeared destined to return for the 2025-26 season before news broke that the unrestricted free agent is the subject of a federal gambling probe. The Pistons adjusted, sign-and-trading for former Michigan sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and inking another ex-Michigan wing, Caris LeVert, to a two-year contract.
In all, they’ve lost three veterans — Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dennis Schröder — and replaced them with two. Along with re-signing Paul Reed, the bulk of their offseason remodeling is complete.
Team president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon addressed the media at the team’s Midtown practice facility on Tuesday, July 8. Here’s what he had to say about their summer.
"I think the main thing for us is continuing to let these young guys develop, and they’re in the gym and they’re working their butt off," he said. "Our thing is, like I said initially in the summer, if they get better we’re going to get better. It was still finding pieces to complement our players and their growth, and their ability to reach their potential."
Pistons prioritized size, flexibility after Beasley pivot
The Pistons were prepared to offer Beasley a three-year deal worth $42 million following a season in which he set the franchise record for made 3-pointers. News of the gambling probe came on Sunday, June 29, a day before they could talk to outside free agents. (Beasley, once one of the top wings on the market, is currently in limbo awaiting a resolution to the investigation.)
That didn't leave the Pistons a lot of time to adjust their plans.
“Not much time,” Langdon said Tuesday. “I was able to communicate with Malik and his agent on Saturday, which was obviously right before we could start talking to free agents on Sunday. It was disappointing for us, because we were excited to get him back. Had to pivot quickly and given the situation, we have to have high-character human beings coming into Detroit and I think they'll help us a lot. Pretty darn good basketball players, too.”
With the 6-foot-7 Robinson and 6-6 LeVert replacing the 6-4 Beasley and the 6-1 Schröder, the Pistons’ backcourt has gotten significantly bigger. They’re also both on reasonable deals – LeVert’s two-year contract is for $29 million, and Robinson is on a three-year, $48 million contract that’s partially guaranteed in Year 2 and non-guaranteed in Year 3.
“I think with our two additions we got bigger,” Langdon said. “We want to continue to put around guys that can play-make a little bit but also shoot the ball, and those guys have postseason experience as well. In a way, we do get bigger. Will we be better? I’m not sure. That comes from the growth of our young guys, being in the gym and developing.”
LeVert, Robinson address key needs
Losing Beasley for this season hurts. He's one of five NBA players to make at least 300 3-pointers in a single season (with 319 last season). But Robinson can also knock down 3s at a high rate – with a career percentage of 39.7% – while bringing some downhill playmaking as well. From 2019-22, he made 752 total 3s (an average of 251 per season) at a 40.8% clip for the Miami Heat.
“We talked about quick pivot and finding shooting that could stretch the floor a little bit for Cade (Cunningham), but also he comes off actions, a lot of stuff with Bam (Adebayo) and throughout the years, he’s become a better guy at penetrating closeouts or even coming off curls, down-screen action, getting in the paint and making the right reads whether it’s finishing or kicking out.”
Langdon envisions LeVert as a jack-of-all-trades that can plug multiple roles. He’s a strong passer with career averages of four assists and 1.8 turnovers, and he can score from all three levels. Defensively, he competes and can move up and down positions.
“The special thing about Caris is I think you can plug-and-play him with darn near anybody,” Langdon said. “He can go out there and guard ones, twos and threes. He can handle, he can be a secondary ballhandler, he can play on, he can play off depending on the lineup. He’s shown that throughout his career and he’s a high-level competitor, worker, easy to play with. He plays an unselfish brand of basketball but he can play off, he can come off down screens, he can come off pick and roll actions, score for himself, create for others. I’m confident (coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s) gonna find a really good role for him in our system.”
Ausar Thompson hits the gym
Blood clots cost Ausar Thompson the end of his rookie season, all of his 2024 offseason and the beginning of last season. He played himself into shape after finally making his season debut in November, and was one of the team’s most impactful two-way players by the end of the season. In the playoffs, he was indispensable as a shutdown defender on New York's Jalen Brunson.
Now, he has a full offseason to work on his game. Langdon said Thompson has been a regular at the practice facility, noticeably filling out his frame.
“When you see him, you’re going to see a different Ausar,” Langdon said. “He looks like he’s naturally filled out, he looks bigger. And when I mean bigger, I mean stronger. His shoulders are broader, he looks like he’s put on some maturing mass.
“We’ve talked about some shot-creation stuff, ball-handling things. Obviously working on his shot and finishing. Seems like he’s getting more comfortable in those areas. We’re pleased with his progress. Being able to start having a full summer, having a training cap to be able to start the season healthy will be very important for him and very important for us.”
The roster is settled, for now
The Pistons still have two open roster spots, as well as a traded-player exception generated from the Schröder sign-and-trade with the Sacramento Kings. It gives them flexibility to address any roster weak points, but Langdon said he’s comfortable with where the roster currently stands.
“I think we’re at 13 (players), if I’m not mistaken, right now,” he said. “Acquiring the TPE from Sacramento will allow us different avenues to do things, whether that’s now or later, we don’t know. We’re not in a rush to fill the 14th but I think we’re excited about the roster that we’ve put together right now.”
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' pivot from Malik Beasley: 'Disappointing'
Category: Basketball
