When Malik Beasley’s gambling investigation was announced the Detroit Pistons had to quickly pivot to Plan B and signed wing Caris LeVert.
I am trying to talk myself into LeVert, but he’s an iffy fit as a guy who doesn’t shoot a ton of 3-pointers.
The second the signing was announced I started seeing posts about this being the end of Tim Hardaway Jr. in Detroit and it might be. You could look at LeVert as an upgrade on THJ, as they play the same position and THJ was already likely going to be forced out of the starting five by the return of Jaden Ivey and the emergence of Ausar Thompson last season.
It would make sense if THJ was the odd man out, as the Pistons would still love to add some more depth at power forward.
But they also need shooting, and after losing out on Beasley, the Pistons might look at THJ as the next best thing.
Detroit Pistons free agency: Tim Hardaway Jr. in the Beasley role
THJ isn’t going to replace Beasley’s shooting, but neither is Caris LeVert by himself, so the Pistons still need to find a volume 3-point shooter.
There have been rumblings about a possible sign-and-trade for Duncan Robinson, who would satisfy their need for a volume shooter, but all indications so far are that he is going to stay in Miami.
With few other options in free agency, the Pistons could turn back to THJ if the price is right and maybe come to terms on a one-year deal to keep him in Detroit. This would be the nightmare scenario for some fans who were keen to upgrade and move on from THJ, not bring him back in an important role.
He’s not Beasley, but you at least know THJ brings consistency from behind the 3-point line and is a guy who doesn’t miss many games. As of right now, the Pistons have exactly one guy on their roster who averaged over 40 percent from 3-point range last season and that’s Jaden Ivey, who played 30 games.
With a lack of available shooters, the Pistons may try to squeeze THJ onto their payroll to bridge the gap until they can find a better upgrade.
This is not at all the offseason we thought we were getting, and shooting has now become an even bigger concern than it was last season, as the Pistons lost the best shooter from a team that finished 21st in the league in 3-point makes per game.
Fans are already grumbling about LeVert’s fit, and the Pistons do need to offset that by adding more shooting somehow.