The Detroit Pistons got the summer started by trading Isaiah Stewart, a fan favorite and the longest tenured member of the team, proof that Trajan Langdon will do whatever he has to do to upgrade his roster.
That will also likely include trading Marcus Sasser, who is currently being shopped by the Pistons according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype.
This is not at all surprising, as the selection of Ebuka Okorie in the draft may have made Sasser redundant.
Detroit then added Isaiah Joe in a trade, so they have superfluous guards. The Pistons were already carrying two small guards in Sasser and Daniss Jenkins, so it's unlikely all four will be on the roster by the time next season rolls around.
It's been and and up down time for Sasser in Detroit, and he probably deserved better.
Marcus Sasser stayed ready
Sasser probably should have gotten a bit more opportunity than he did last season, but he just couldn't crack the rotation full time for whatever reason.
But whenever Sasser was called upon, he stepped up, very much like Paul Reed in the frontcourt rotation, where every time he played you wondered why he didn't play more.
JB Bickerstaff eventually turned to Sass in the playoffs but it wasn't likely enough to save his career in Detroit. Sasser is an efficient shooter, and holds his own on defense, but he is undersized and isn't someone who creates much for anyone but himself.
The additions of Okorie and Isaiah Joe have pushed Sasser even further down the depth chart, so it makes sense for the Pistons to get what they can for him, or to use him as a sweetner in a big deal.
Marcus Sasser will be bonus player in a trade
On his own, Sasser isn't going to garner much on the trade market even though he's been a productive player and is on a deal that will pay him just over $5 million next season.
We just saw Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe, who are both better than Sasser, traded for a couple of second-round picks each, so at most, Sasser would probably land a future second rounder.
However, his real value will come in a bigger trade if the Pistons need more salary to match. His $5 million could come in handy coupled with someone like Caris LeVert, as it would get the Pistons close to the $20 million mark. Teams looking for younger players (New Orleans?) may also be motivated a change of scenery guy who has produced when called upon.
Since he'll likely just be salary fodder, we could see Sasser moved a couple of times this summer, as the team that gets him may not ultimately want or need his services.
I do think Sasser will end up somewhere, I just hope it's a team that gives him a real shot at rotation minutes, as he's shown he can put the ball in the hoop.
He never got a real shot in Detroit, but Sasser may get his chance somewhere else.
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