What impact is Ron Holland making for Detroit Pistons?
Free Press Sports columnist Shawn Windsor break down the influence Ron Holland is making on the Detroit Pistons.
The roster spot the Detroit Pistons appeared to be holding open for Malik Beasley has been filled.
On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Pistons claimed former Sacramento Kings center Isaac Jones, the Free Press has confirmed, officially filling out the team’s roster as they sit in second place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-2 record.
While the Pistons never formally said the 15th roster spot was being left open in case something could be worked out with Beasley, it was a more than reasonable deduction.
Beasley was a key part of last year’s team and finished second in the NBA in 3-pointers, while becoming the first Piston to make more than 300 shots beyond the arc, but has remained unsigned throughout the offseason and the start of the season due to a probe into suspicious bets surrounding Beasley.
It’s not exactly clear where the investigation into Beasley stands. In August, Beasley’s agent said that he is no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation.
More recently, as former Pistons great and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier have been wrapped up in a gambling scandal involving the FBI and the mob, Beasley has stayed out of the fray.
But according to journalist Pablo Torre, he’s not totally in the clear. The NBA’s investigation into Beasley “didn’t find anything,” according to Torre, but remained open as federal authorities continued to investigate. All of that has left Beasley without a team and the Pistons appear to be done waiting to fill out their team.
With Jones, the Pistons are opting for some additional size over the shooting Beasley could bring. Jones has appeared in 43 games in his career, including three this year with the Kings. He’s averaged 3.2 points and 0.8 rebounds.
While Jones officially fills out the roster, if something were to change with Beasley’s status, it would not be impossible to add him to the roster, as they could release Jones or someone else to make room. But for now, Beasley’s wait will have to continue.
