Marcus Sasser is trending upwards and other teams are noticing. After an injury-saddled start to the season, Sasser has been great in his last two outings for the Pistons. Now, Suns writer Luke Duffy is urging his team to pursue a trade for Sasser as a perfect 3-and-D bench piece. Phoenix might also not be the only team interested in acquiring Sasser's services.
Marcus Sasser is increasing his trade value
Of course, parting ways with Sasser will be a hard pill for the Pistons to swallow. He's one of the only consistent sources of shooting on the whole roster. Sasser's shooting and ball-handling are a major help for the team offense, whether he's on the court with the second unit or playing with starters.
Sasser's defensive effort also contributes to a dominant Pistons defense. Although he's not the largest guard, Sasser's hustle and toughness at his position can force turnovers and misses. Once the defense is able to reign in a stop, Sasser is an expert at pushing the pace to easy baskets with his outlet passing and confidence to shoot threes on the fastbreak.
The Pistons will be in no rush to give away Sasser for a weak return. He's exactly the type of player that they need more of on the roster, so replacing his contributions will be difficult. But Duffy proposes that the Suns could step in as a third party in a potential Pistons mega-trade for a superstar like the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo to absorb Sasser's salary.
This would be the most realistic scenario where Sasser gets traded. Right now, he's arguably outperforming his contract (just $2.9 million this season and $5.2 million next season). The only reason for the Pistons to part with that sort of value would be getting a bonafide superstar in return that instantly elevates them to championship contenders.
As the season progresses, that sort of blockbuster trade is seeming less and less likely by the passing day. With the Pistons success so far and the young age of their core group, they're more likely to let their current team go through the ups and downs of an extended playoff run first. Taking a swing on a big trade before next offseason would be a shocking decision.
However, it's still useful to see that Sasser is driving up trade interest for other teams. The Suns aren't the only team that could use a confident dribbler and shooter who can hold his own on defense. If the Pistons ever commit to catching a big fish on the trade market, Sasser is a potential chip to dangle for third parties that can facilitate the finances of that trade. In today's complex cap environment, it's becoming nearly impossible to have major two-team trades without involving some middle men.