After trading Isaiah Stewart to kick off the offseason, the Detroit Pistons are expected to look at Marcus Sasser next—an efficient, defense-capable but undersized guard whose role has been squeezed by new additions like Ebuka Okorie and Isaiah Joe.
Detroit’s offseason didn’t wait around—it arrived with a jolt.
The Pistons kicked things off by trading Isaiah Stewart, a fan favorite and the longest-tenured player on the team. The move signals that Trajan Langdon is willing to make hard changes to reshape the roster, even if it means parting with someone who feels like part of the franchise.
Now the question in Detroit is who comes next.
Marcus Sasser—currently being shopped by the Pistons, according to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype—looks like the most likely follow-up. And the reasoning around that feels almost inevitable. The Pistons used their draft to select Ebuka Okorie. a decision that may have pushed Sasser further down the depth chart. Detroit also added Isaiah Joe in a trade, leaving the roster with more guards than it likely intends to carry.
Sasser, along with Daniss Jenkins, was already part of a group of smaller guards. With Okorie and Isaiah Joe now in the mix, it’s unlikely all four guards will still be on the roster by the time next season rolls around.
For Sasser, it’s been an uneven stretch—up and down time in Detroit—more frustrating than it needed to be. He stayed ready, and when he got called upon, he stepped up. Still, he probably deserved more opportunity than he received last season.
Even when Sasser did play, it was hard for him to break through consistently into the rotation. His case is simple: he’s an efficient shooter and he holds his own on defense. But he’s also undersized. and he isn’t the kind of player who creates much for others—he’s more of a “himself” scorer than a full offense engine.
In the playoffs, the script changed just a bit. JB Bickerstaff eventually turned to Sasser, and the hope was that it might be enough to change the direction of his Detroit career. But it wasn’t likely enough to save it.
With Okorie and Isaiah Joe pushing Sasser even further down the depth chart, the motivation to move him isn’t just theoretical. It’s practical: the Pistons can try to get what they can, or they can use Sasser as a sweetener in a larger deal.
On his own, Sasser likely won’t fetch much. He’s been productive, and he’s on a deal that will pay him just over $5 million next season. Even so, the expectation is that his return would be limited—at most a future second-round pick.
Detroit has already shown what it’s willing to do with guard value. Aaron Wiggins and Isaiah Joe—both seen as better than Sasser in this view—were traded for a pair of second-round picks each. That kind of recent comparison matters. because it frames what teams may see when they look at Sasser’s role and ceiling.
His real value could show up only if Detroit needs salary matching in a bigger transaction. His $5 million could come in handy alongside a player like Caris LeVert, getting the Pistons close to the $20 million mark. That flexibility is useful in today’s roster-building math.
The pitch for Sasser isn’t just money or minutes—it’s fit. Teams looking for younger players, such as New Orleans, may be motivated by a change of scenery. If the Pistons end up treating him as salary fodder, it’s possible Sasser moves more than once this summer. The team that acquires him may not ultimately want—or need—his services long-term.
Still, the core idea stays the same: Sasser will likely end up somewhere. The hope is that wherever he lands, the opportunity is real—rotation minutes, not leftovers. Because in Detroit, he never really got that chance.
And for a player who has shown he can put the ball in the hoop when called upon, that matters.
Detroit Pistons Isaiah Stewart trade Marcus Sasser Trajan Langdon Ebuka Okorie Isaiah Joe Daniss Jenkins JB Bickerstaff Caris LeVert salary matching