The Pistons begin the season with a relatively stacked slate, including seven of their first 10 games against playoff hopefuls. Their first nationally televised game will come in Game 4, against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 27th. An injury to Cavs starter Max Strus may add an unexpected element to this game and even lead to Malik Beasley’s return to Detroit.
Strus has been Cleveland’s primary perimeter defender in the starting lineup, crammed between two small guards and two huge bigs. He would likely have been the one guarding Cade Cunningham in this matchup. In lieu of his injury, someone else will have to step up off the bench.
The replacement small forward will probably be De’Andre Hunter, who the Cavs acquired at the trade deadline last season from the Hawks. Hunter came into the league as a 3-and-D prospect but thrived most last season when he focused on the “3” part of that label. Cade has also historically torched the Hawks, so Hunter is likely not someone who can shut him down.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Potential Malik Beasley Destination?
The loss of Strus moves everyone up in the depth chart, and creates an opening for another wing shooter on the roster. There have been reports that the Cavs have checked in with Malik Beasley since he seemed cleared of a federal investigation. There have now been contradictory accounts of how clear he really is, but the Cavs may still pursue him.
Historically, these investigations take a long time to resolve, so whatever team signs Beasley may get some playing time out of him before a final verdict is even reached. For Cleveland, a team with only a minimum contract to offer, the risk seems worth the tradeoff.
The Cavaliers were one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams of all time last season. They finished sixth on the list of most 3s made by a team in a season in NBA history. And they did so at an efficient clip, shooting a combined 38.3 percent from beyond the arc as a team.
The Cavaliers encouraged and empowered good shooters to take 3s, even contested ones as long as they were in the flow of the game. Malik Beasley would fit right into such an environment and likely thrive. What’s to stop the Cavs from risking a minimum deal on a player who fits their playstyle so perfectly, even if there is potential for a suspension down the road?
Of course, Beasley returning to Detroit as an opponent so early in the season would be absolute cinema. Surely there would be some mixed reactions, as you can’t blame the guy for going where he wants after his debacle this offseason. It would definitely be interesting to see how the Pistons match up against him and what emotions it evokes in the players.