Trade and free agent rumors are swirling around the Detroit Pistons in the wake of the shocking Malik Beasley news that broke yesterday.
Beasley is reportedly under federal investigation for gambling, and while he is presumed innocent when it comes to the law, that investigation likely cost him the $42 million deal the Pistons were ready to give him.
The Pistons have to turn to Plan B, which they likely weren’t expecting, as Beasley was all but a done deal up until yesterday.
Detroit desperately needs shooting, even if Beasley were returning, so that will now be the priority and focus of the offseason.
They are reported to be in a bidding war with Atlanta for Nickeil Alexander-Walker but there is only so high Detroit can go, and he alone won’t solve their shooting issues.
If the Pistons lose out on NAW, they have a couple of other options according to insider Marc Stein (subscription).
Caris LeVert
LeVert split this season between Cleveland and Atlanta, where he averaged 15 points per game off the bench for the Hawks.
LeVert has a couple of traits the Pistons are looking for, as he has good size at 6-foot-6 and he can score and create from the wing. He also shot 37 percent from long range on over four attempts per game this season, though he’s known more as a slasher and mid-range scorer than a volume 3-point shooter.
He’s averaged four assists per game for his career, so he would somewhat satisfy the Pistons’ desire to have another creator on the wing.
He’s not going to replace Beasley’s 3-point shooting, but he’s a more versatile player who can defend his position much better than Beasley.
Duncan Robinson
Robinson declined his $19.9 million player option, likely to sign another deal with Miami, who will either just keep him or orchestrate a sign-and-trade.
It’s unlikely Miami lets him walk for nothing, so Robinson is a player that may cost the Pistons assets on top of money, but according to Stein, they are at least kicking the tires.
A sign-and-trade would rely on how much money Robinson gets paid, as he’s had two good seasons in a row, back to shooting 40 percent from 3-point range on high volume and adding more of a dribble attack to his game on close outs.
Robinson isn’t a great defender but he’s smart and knows where to be on that end. He’s the type of volume 3-point shooter who could replace Beasley’s production and also offers more size at the shooting guard/wing position.
The Pistons could sign both of these players theoretically and add a nice one/two scoring punch off their bench to replace Beasley.