Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has officially poured cold water on speculation linking the franchise with a reunion for veteran sharpshooter Malik Beasley.
Speaking at his pre-draft press conference on Thursday, Langdon confirmed that the team has not been in contact with Beasley or his representatives regarding a potential return to Detroit for the 2026-27 season . The decision comes as Beasley remains sidelined from the NBA due to a federal investigation into allegations of gambling on NBA games and prop bets .
“I have not talked to him about coming back,” Langdon stated directly . The Pistons president further clarified that renewed discussions are effectively impossible at this time, noting that Beasley “doesn’t have an agent right now, either, so that would make it hard” . This statement directly contradicts recent reports from an NBA insider that claimed the Pistons had opened discussions with Beasley’s representatives about a one-year deal .
The situation marks a dramatic turn for both Beasley and the Pistons. During the 2024-25 season, the 9-year NBA veteran was a revelation for Detroit. Playing all 82 games, Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game while shooting an elite 41.6% from three-point range on 9.3 attempts per game . His performance was one of the most prolific shooting seasons in franchise history, as he joined an exclusive group of players to make 300 three-pointers in a season and finished second in Sixth Man of the Year voting .
Following that breakout campaign, Beasley was reportedly set to agree to a lucrative three-year, $42 million contract to remain with the Pistons . However, the deal was scuttled just as it was about to be finalized in late June 2025, when news of the gambling investigation broke . The Pistons subsequently pivoted, executing a sign-and-trade for Duncan Robinson and signing Caris LeVert to fill the void .
Beasley missed the entire 2025-26 season as the investigation continued . The league has provided no public indication that the probe has concluded, leaving his NBA eligibility in limbo . While the Pistons still hold Beasley’s non-Bird rights, which would allow them to sign him to a contract starting at $7.2 million, Langdon’s comments suggest the organization is unwilling to engage until the legal situation is resolved .
Despite his absence, Beasley has remained active, recently signing with the Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico’s BSN league to maintain his conditioning while awaiting clarity on his NBA future .
For now, the Pistons appear to have moved on. With the franchise coming off a 60-win season that saw them earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Detroit has already added shooters like Isaiah Joe and John Collins this offseason to address their offensive needs . A reunion with Beasley while potentially beneficial for his elite shooting remains a distant possibility at best until the league’s investigation reaches a conclusion .
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