Marcus Sasser has been assigned to the Pistons' G-League affiliate as he comes closer to making his season debut. Sasser has been injured to start the season with a hip impingement, but now nears his on-court return. Unfortunately for him, the Pistons have already found a perfect (and cheap) option at his typical backup point guard role in his absence.
There's no room in the rotation for Sasser
Sasser has typically profiled as a backup point guard due to his small stature - 6'1" and 195lbs. But Jenkins has undeniably established himself in that role, both in games without Cade Cunningham and backing up the franchise star. It's always a positive for the Pistons to get more shot creation and playmaking when Cade is off the floor, but Sasser's fit is tenuous with Jenkins on the team.
As it stands, the Pistons have already had difficulty properly distributing minutes across the roster. Adding another ambitious guard looking for ball handling opportunities can throw an extra wrench for coach JB Bickerstaff. Sasser's playstyle also makes it harder to fit him into lineups. Despite his point guard frame, he's not a natural playmaker. Instead, he's better looking for his own shot and playing like a shooting guard.
It's possible that Sasser can adjust his play to fit the traditional point guard role better. He should look to Jenkins as a good example of balancing scoring and playmaking in the modern game. His primary responsibility will be maximizing the offensive potential of his teammates on the second unit. Many are not great isolation scorers but can hit shots when set up properly.
Jenkins has also been better defensively than Sasser has shown in recent seasons, helped by his 6'4" frame. Sasser has shown flashes of being a great perimeter stopper in the past against quick guards. He will need to lean into this strength to get minutes on the current Pistons roster.
It'll be an uphill battle for Marcus Sasser to integrate himself into the Pistons lineup without throwing off the team's momentum. They've already proven they can win games without him, and found his potential replacement. But Sasser is still a talented player who's capable of being a positive on the court.
If the Pistons can't find room for him it their lineups, he could end up on the trade market. Of course the Pistons will want to see him on the current team before giving up on him. But a trade could be mutually beneficial for player and team. Sasser can break out with the ball in his hands more, and the Pistons can benefit more from a wing or playmaking guard.