The Detroit Pistons are coming off their most successful year in nearly a decade. Their 44 wins were the most since the 2018-19 season and they made the playoffs for the first time since that season, falling in six games to the New York Knicks. While the franchise had its first taste of success in a while, the focus this offseason is how to take it to the next level.
The first step in that process will be what the Pistons plan on doing with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the NBA Draft. One player who could be coming in for a visit could shed some light on Detroit's plans and the future of an upcoming free agent that will look to cash in this summer.
Malik Beasley’s Departure May Be Imminent After RJ Felton’s Pistons Visit
According to Eazy of Woodward Sports, the Pistons are bringing in East Carolina guard RJ Felton for a pre-draft workout. Felton averaged a career-high 18.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game for the Pirates last season and ranks third in school history among Division-I players with 1,774 career points. Most impressively, the combo guard shot a career-high 37.6% on 3-pointers, which may signal what the Pistons are looking to find in the draft.
The Pistons are bringing in Guard RJ Felton (East Carolina) for a Pre-Draft Workout. Felton has been busy with workouts after leading @PIT_Basketball in scoring. Felton is also represented my guy @AgentLouisBing ! Who also represents Kerby Joseph. pic.twitter.com/ZVZqtRU8Yh
— Eazy (@SpeakEZsports_) June 3, 2025
A solid defender that compares himself to Gary Payton II, Felton could become an instant contributor on the Pistons bench and could spell the end of Malik Beasley’s tenure in Detroit. The Pistons have a decision to make in the backcourt as Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. are pending free agents but while Hardaway’s departure seems obvious after struggling in the first round loss to the Knicks, Beasley is willing to return for the right price.
The Pistons have mutual interest after Beasley averaged 16.3 points per game and shot a career-high 41.6% from 3-point range while finishing as the runner up for the Sixth Man of the Year Award. But The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson pointed out that Beasley could command a contract similar to the four-year, $77.9 million contract that Malik Monk signed with the Sacramento Kings last summer. Patterson also added that the Pistons might not offer Beasley a contract with over $20 million per season, which could leave the 28-year-old to chase the money somewhere else.
Detroit will lean on Jaden Ivey’s return from a fractured fibula to fill the hole in their starting lineup, but who is behind him is a bigger question next season. If Felton is available when the Pistons make their first selection, it could present a cheaper alternative and add another young piece to a promising nucleus.