Pistons reportedly acquire 25th pick to select Marcus Sasser
With the No. 25 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Memphis Grizzlies have selected Houston guard Marcus Sasser with plans to send him to the Detroit Pistons.
The selection originally belonged to the Memphis Grizzlies, but was reportedly dealt to the Boston Celtics in the Kristaps Porzingis trade. The pick was then reportedly flipped to the Pistons for pick No. 31 and future second-round picks, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
After testing the draft waters last year following a foot injury that limited his junior season to 12 games, Sasser returned for a full senior campaign to cap his collegiate career. The 22-year-old won the Jerry West Award as the best collegiate shooting guard, AAC Player of the Year, and was named a consensus first-team All-American.
Sasser is a more NBA-ready prospect due to his age and strengths. He plays a perimeter-based game on both ends, using his feel to get off deep three-pointers. Sasser's also a ballhawk defensively with a nose for taking on tough defensive assignments.
Bio
Position: Guard
School: Houston
College experience: Senior
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 196 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-7
Max vertical: 35 inches
2022-23 stats with Houston
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 43.8 | 38.4 | 84.8 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 16.8 |
Strengths
- Massive wingspan allows him flexibility as a perimeter defender. Recorded 1.6 steals per game this season. Can throw him on the lead playmaker, and Sasser will stay square in front of him. Hustles hard and often to deny scoring opportunities.
- A fluid scorer from deep. Can pull from far beyond the three-point line using screens and isolation. Shows promise on catch-and-shoot attempts.
- Uses a crafty handle to get off floaters on offense.
Weaknesses
- Doesn't project to have a lot of positional versatility moving into the pros. Not a true lead guard as a starter or bench piece and lacks height to play off-ball with another backcourt player.
- Not a great finisher around the rim when he drives, which comes few and far between. Mainly scores outside the paint.
- Another older prospect, will be 23 years old when the season begins.
NBA comparable: Patrick Beverley with better shooting touch. It can be tough to predict how smaller guards with large wingspans pan out in the NBA, but Beverley is a certified success story. Molding his game to take an active role on defense, Sasser can find similar success while maintaining his floor spacing and developing an off-ball game.