More Moves Coming? Pistons Eye Backcourt Upgrade + Beasley Responds | PJ Reacts

More Moves Coming? Pistons Eye Backcourt Upgrade + Beasley Responds | PJ Reacts

Welcome back to the Piston Jack YouTube channel. On today’s episode, we’ll react to some rumors that the Pistons are still looking to fill out their backcourt. Malik Beasley shared some comments on his Instagram, and we’ll also have an update on the Cam Thomas situation. So, let’s get to it. All right, first things first. I want to dive straight into the Cam Thomas situation because I think we can put this one to bed now uh with some new information coming from Jake Fischer of the I think he does work for Bleacher Report and also the Stein Line. Um he’s named the People’s Insider over there. Um Jake said on a recent uh I think it was for Bleacher Report, one of their live shows that they do, uh he was doing a free agency update and of course Cam Thomas came up and quote from him. I think he’s going back to Brooklyn. I don’t think there’s any real suitors out there for him right now. He then followed up by saying, “Cam Thomas to me seems to be like the most likely of all the restricted free agents to take the qualifying offer. Throughout all of my conversations around his restricted free agency, I’ve not heard that Brooklyn has offered Cam Thomas anything further than a two-year deal with a team option on that second year of the deal of around $14.1 million, the mid-level exception. So, we spoke the other day about the report that that’s from Jake that that’s what and that’s offered him, but it sounds like with the way the market’s looking for all the restrictive free for agents, uh, that Cam Thomas is the one who’s kind of feeling the pinch the most. Obviously, there’s Kaminga, there’s Giddy, and there’s Quinton Grimes, but it’s starting to feel like at least definitely Grimes and Giddy are going to be back on their 76ers and the Bulls. Kaminga has bit a bit more of a market. Uh obviously the Kings are interested in him. I believe even the Phoenix Suns might be. So there’s a bit more of a market from him. Um even though there hasn’t been any formal offers made. So Cam Thomas, not players don’t normally take the qualifying offer, but it feels like Cam Thomas is willing to take I think he has like a $12 million qualifying offer I believe I’ve heard. Um, but it sounds like he’s willing to take that instead of a two-year $28 million deal to get into free agency next summer and hopefully make um and earn a big payday there when there should be more money um amongst NBA teams to spend. So, look, it was always unlikely he was coming to Detroit. Uh there was some more commentary um from it’s Ahri Report who we’re going to talk about something he mentioned in just a moment. Um who I believe is an insider. I have to still some of his stuff’s been accurate, some of his hasn’t. He’s kind of just emerged in the past few months on Twitter, but he said um Cam Thomas to the Pistons is absolutely not happening. And it just feels like in general, like when we discussed the depth chart and all that, it kind of didn’t make a lot of sense for Cam Thomas to come to the Pistons. Of course, I went through on previous videos how they could acquire him and how like the Pistons could actually acquire him on a deal of around $40 million because of that $14.3 million trade exception they had. So, there was a world where the Pistons could sign and trade and get him and still get him for that value. But, I don’t think Cam Thomas I think even if the Pistons could offer that, I think he has more of a role on the Nets next season to earn himself a bigger payday than coming to Detroit. The only way I could see him earning more money coming to a team like Detroit over the Nets um in the long term, like say he came to the Pistons on a 2-year deal, same structure, but he just wanted a new scenery. Um 2 years 28, say that’s that’s the game. Maybe he had a player option the second year or team option, whatever. I could see him maybe earning more money if he had some big moments in the playoffs and showing that he can be on a winning team, but there’s no way he’d be starting on the Pistons um barring barring any injuries. And I think with Levert already off the bench and Cam Thomas, like there’s just a lot of overlap there in terms of they are different players, but um they both are guys that need the ball. And look, Cam’s probably a bit better scorer, but I think Caris gives you a bit more defensively and as a playmaker. So, it was always unlikely, but I wanted to get that. This will be the last time we probably talk about Cam Thomas until something actually happens if he does come to the Pistons, but it doesn’t sound like it’s happening. So, wanted to touch on that first. Uh but moving on uh we had a I guess this is a rumor report from as you can see on the right here from Ari report who I just mentioned before over on Twitter. He said that point blank the Troy Pistons and Atlanta Hawks have looked at backcourt options in free agency league sources say. Now, the reason I want to talk about this is cuz I’m kind of surprised um that the Pistons, I’m not surprised they’re still looking for that back court because we’ve spoken a lot about how they probably don’t have a true backup point guard. Ivy’s going to fill a lot of those minutes. Carce Levert’s going to fill a lot of those minutes and I think even Assar at times will get minutes as the point guard even if they are small. But, um the Pistons don’t have that like backup point guard. They just don’t. They didn’t at the entering last season. Obviously, we know they got Dennis Shruder, but they let him walk this summer. So, this got me thinking, well, if the Pistons are still looking at this, they’re probably still looking at backup fors as well. But, I just wanted to do an update of who’s available. And some of the names I do actually think could be a nice little pickup here uh for the Pistons. So, as you can see on the right here, I have Malcolm Brogden, who is to the right, and then Amir Coffee. Um, Air Coffee is a name I haven’t mentioned at all. I know people in the comments have brought him up a couple of times. So, let’s talk about air coffee first. So, he’s 67 guard. He’s been on the Clippers for four or five seasons, primarily coming off the bench with spot starts. Last season, he averaged 10 points, couple of rebounds, couple assist, 47% from the field, but 41% from three, which is really encouraging on around four or five attempts a game. Uh, like I said, good size at the guard position. 6’7, obviously, he could slide up, play at the three. Um, I think he that would be an excellent depth ad. I do wonder similar to like how was Chris Bashet if like air coffee does want to come to a team like Detroit where he’ll probably be the ninth or tenth man um in a healthy with a healthy roster. So but if you could get him um maybe he I do think both he and Brogden will be guys that request a bianial exception of 5.1 million. Um like I don’t think you’re getting these two on a vet mint. I I think air coffee is a real bucket getter and especially when he’s you’re signing him as like your you know say 8 through to 12th man wherever you want to slot him like I think um he can be a real real nice player to add. I think he’s like 27 28 years old so came into the league a little bit later. Um but I mean after looking at the numbers I I’ve watched Clippers games obviously over past years and he’s always been a guy that stands out. He’s a lefty. I’m a lefty myself so a bit of bias there as well. So, I think it’d be cool to add him. Um, Malcolm Brogden was spoken about a fair bit. Uh, these are the I don’t want to be negative about him, but Brogden last season only played 24 games, has been injured a lot in his career. In theory, when he was in his prime with the Bucks, excellent like combo guard that can create um can score a little bit off the dribble, great like pretty good distributor, can defend at 6’5, but just hasn’t been healthy. and he played 24 games last season. Averaged 13 points, four dimes, but he did it on pretty bad efficiency, only shooting 43% from the field, 29% from three. Um, so look, I kind of don’t really see him coming to the Pistons. Like, he’s a guy last season that made 22 million. Um, obviously he’s not going to make 22 million this upcoming season, but I still think he’s a guy that’s going to try and get um a contract. Like I said, for the Pistons to get here, I think it’s going to take the bannual exception. Maybe there’s not much of a market for him because of the injuries and that kind of thing, but um if I had to pick between the two guys on the right, I would take Coffee. Um whilst Brogden is definitely more of a playmaker and point guard, I do just think having 6’7 guys that can shoot 40% from three um in your lineup, in your depth is a viable weapon. And we’ve seen a mere coffee I’ve seen him go off with the Clippers. Um particularly when like Kawhai and Paul George were injured like in those seasons like he’s a guy he’s gotten spot starts and put up like 20 point games with ease. So he’s a guy I really like. Some other names here that we haven’t really discussed this whole off season. Gary Payton the second um obviously excellent defender at the two guard position. I don’t think he gives you much as a playmaker and the three-point shooting is shaky at best. So, if the Pistons could add him on a vet min and he’s like coming in um to lock down and bring you some defense off the bench, I think that is good. I just kind of question, you know, like the shooting and he doesn’t really do a lot with the ball in hands. Excellent cutter. Like I said, his guys going to get steals, create transition looks, so maybe that’s all you need from your ninth or tth guy. So, that’s another name. And then Delano Banton um played for the Raptors most recently on the Trailblazers. 6’9 point guard uh eight points 2 and two last season, but the efficiency with him 39% from the field, 32% from three. Like I’m just not sure if the playmaking is good enough to justify those numbers, but 6’9 point guard is intriguing to me. I I just I think he’s an intriguing player for sure. I’m just not sure about a playoff team like the Pistons. But those are some names. And then obviously a lot of people keep bringing up Russell Westbrook, but it’s pretty much been reported he’s going to the Kings. And then the other name, the only other really point guard on there that I could see realistically being available is Cory Joseph. And I loved Cojo in 2021 with uh K Cunningham, but I and I was in the minority there, but I thought Kojo was really good for the Pistons, particularly K’s rookie season. But uh I think Kojo is probably past his prime. So um I think he was on the magic last season. But honestly, that’s that’s that’s pretty much everything I could find in the back court in the franty market. Who’s your favorite? Like I said, I think air coffee stands out for me. Let’s see what the Pistons do. I still think there’s they they’ve got only got 13 players. Sounds like Dennis Jenkins is probably going to remain a two-way guy now. So, um they still got to sign at least one more player before opening night. So, Amir Coffee to me stands out of this list, but you guys let me know who you like of those names or there someone I missed. But to wrap it up here, Malik Beasley um posted a couple of Instagram stories uh I believe yesterday or the day before, but as you can see them on the right here. The first story was the one that is on the right of the image to the right where it says best believe I’m coming back better than ever. And then he followed that with never needed your opinion. So look, I’m not going to get too much into the investigation. Um alls I’ll say is um there’s a really good breakdown of the entire situation that Pablo Torres did. Um, so just look that up. But, um, look, I think this thing’s going to take a while to play out, but I do have to wonder. Obviously, Malik is is feels as he’s not guilty and you know that that’s that’s to be expected. Do have to wonder like let’s just say like I I truly don’t think this will happen. I think the Pistons have moved on from Malik for the time being. Like they just had to. You couldn’t wait for this situation to play out and not sign Duncan Robinson or not pivot to Carris Levert. Like you needed to fill try and fill the gap that Malik Beasley left. But you do have to wonder the Pistons scoping the back court for agency market. Um you know Malik they were about to offer him the midle except exception 3 years 42 million. like is there a chance like if his situation is cleared because right now like the Pistons can sign him. It’s just you know it wouldn’t be wise while he’s got this going on. Um the reason Terry Rosier kept playing last season with all this going on was cuz he’s contracted and you’re innocent until proven guilty. So, um, like you do have to wonder like if this Malik situation, say it picks up steam in the next 3 to four months and you know, you might be in November, they’ve still got at least one roster spot available. Like, do you sign him to avoid other teams would probably want to sign him as well because of the incredible season he had, but yeah, look, we’ll see what happens. I just want to bring this up cuz I believe this is the first time like Malik’s still been posting on Instagram. I saw he was at Tomorrowland at a music festival in I think it’s Amsterdam. So, he’s still living his life, but this is the first time I feel like he’s said anything um towards his basketball career. We’ve seen him working out, but um yeah, whatever happens is going to happen. Um hoping the best for Malik, but um we’ll see what happens there. But let me know your thoughts on today’s show. Till next time, as always, go Pistons. [Music]

The Detroit Pistons aren’t done yet…

According to multiple reports, the Pistons are looking to add backcourt depth. In today’s episode, I react to the latest on Cam Thomas, break down potential free agent guards still on the market, and share my thoughts on Malik Beasley’s cryptic Instagram story.

We also look at what this means for the Pistons’ current rotation and whether Detroit is gearing up for one final offseason move.

Drop your thoughts in the comments below — would you go after Cam Thomas, or is there another guard you’d love to see the Pistons grab?

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