In a startling turn of events, NBA fans received some clarity about a federal gambling investigation, but it wasn't the one we expected. Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Terry Rozier, among others, has been arrested as part of an NBA investigation related to sports betting. Former Piston Malik Beasley is in a limbo state of investigation for similar charges, and this most recent news can have ripple waves that eventually convince the Pistons to look elsewhere.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested early Thursday morning as part of an FBI sports betting gambling probe, sources tell ESPN. The Eastern District of New York and FBI director Kash Patel will hold a press conference at 10 am ET to announce arrests from investigation.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 23, 2025
The Pistons need to use their flexibility
All throughout the offseason, the Pistons kept one roster spot open and many fans have assumed it was for Beasley in the event that he is cleared to play by the NBA. Rozier's arrest could make things even harder for Beasley to find his way back to the NBA. Teams will likely be even more hesitant to sign him now, including the Pistons themselves.
However, the Pistons may actually benefit from making a more concrete decision on Beasley's situation. If they are willing to use their last roster spot on another player, they can improve the team right away. In their season opener against the Bulls, the Pistons looked terrible offensively for most of the game. There are a few free agents on the market who can immediately boost the Pistons offense.
The Pistons are clearly lacking in solid point guard play when Cade Cunningham is off the court. Injuries have piled up to their backup options, and they don't feel comfortable going further down the depth chart. But the free agent market does have some options for veteran point guards who can bring stability to Detroit.
The most recent addition to the free agency pool of point guards was veteran Spencer Dinwiddie, who was waived by the Hornets one week ago. However, he has already been picked up by German team Bayern Munich. As with many other free agents this offseason, the Pistons lost out due to their uncertainty with Malik Beasley's status.
But the Pistons may just hurt their roster construction unnecessarily while waiting for the final word on Beasley. Rozier's situation shows the risk of signing a player under investigation, and also the possibility for sudden changes in his status. A more safe option would be a solid point guard who can run the bench offense in the meantime while Jaden Ivey recovers from injury.
There are still some potential unsigned options, such as Cameron Payne and Elfrid Payton. At this point in the year, you're not going to get any marquee free agents but a steady hand who can knock down some outside shots can still help this team greatly. The Pistons' weaknesses were clear in their loss to the Bulls, and they should make moves to address those in the present rather than hoping for a Beasley update that may never come to fruition.