Detroit Pistons trade Marcus Sasser to Dusty May’s Dallas Mavericks

The Detroit Pistons have traded a third player this summer.

The Pistons agreed to deal 25-year-old combo guard Marcus Sasser to the Dallas Mavericks, coached by ex-Michigan coach Dusty May, on Tuesday, July 7, according to ESPN. The Pistons are also sending a protected 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Clippers.

This comes as part of a complex six-team trade that includes the Pistons dealing Caris LeVert in a salary-saving move to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday evening. The six-team trade also involves the previously reported moves of the Pistons trading Isaiah Stewart to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Pistons’ acquisition of John Collins from the Clippers.

The Pistons generate a trade exception worth $15 million in the trade-palooza, a person with first-hand knowledge told the Free Press, granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly. The trade exception is worth the same amount as Stewart’s outgoing salary for 2026-27 and allows the Pistons to take in salary up to $15 million without having to send any back. It expires in exactly one year.

Sasser joins a Mavs backcourt where Kyrie Irving is the starting lead guard, and could compete with second-year undrafted guard Ryan Nembhard for the backup role.

Sasser, who the Pistons traded up to draft 25th overall out of Houston in 2023 under previous general manager Troy Weaver, averaged 5.2 points and shot 41.5% from 3. He is on an expiring contract worth $5.2 million from his four-year, $13.5 million rookie deal.

When called upon, Sasser proved he can play. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder was one of the team’s best shooters, but only appeared in 38 games last season due to injury and the Pistons’ depth at guard.

Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon indicated a desire to add more ball-handling and shooting this offseason, after a 60-22 season ended in Game 7 of the second round.

Sasser’s path to minutes wasn’t going to get easier following the addition of first-round pick Ebuka Okorie, a 19-year-old from Stanford, whom the Pistons traded up four spots to draft No. 17 overall.

Then, Langdon traded for one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooters in guard Isaiah Joe in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Sasser, who was out of the playoff rotation until Game 5 of the second round, sparked the Pistons in Game 6 at Cleveland, pouring in nine points on 4-for-5 shooting in 18 minutes in a win-or-go-home setting. He played 23 minutes in Game 7, scoring nine points on 3-for-12 shooting in a 125-94 blowout loss to the Cavaliers at home.

Pistons roster moves this offseason

The Pistons have turned over much of the roster this summer through the draft and NBA free agency.

Here’s who they’ve added and who they’ve lost:

Lost

• Traded Marcus Sasser (Mavericks)
• Traded Caris LeVert (Bucks)
• Traded Isaiah Stewart (Grizzlies)
• Tobias Harris (Spurs)

Added

• Drafted Ebuka Okorie (No. 17)
• Drafted Ugonna Onyenso (No. 53, two-way contract)
• Acquired Isaiah Joe (Thunder)
• Acquired John Collins (Clippers)
• Acquired Taurean Prince (Bucks)
• Acquired Gary Harris (Bucks)

The Pistons also re-signed bench wings Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green.

Pistons depth chart

The Pistons have 16 players on their 15-man roster, plus two of three two-way slots filled. Here’s where their depth chart currently stands as of Wednesday morning:

*Jalen Duren remains unsigned as a restricted free agent.

• PG: Cade Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins, Ebuka Okorie.
• SG: Duncan Robinson, Isaiah Joe, Javonte Green, Chaz Lanier, Gary Harris.
• SF: Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland, Kevin Huerter, Taurean Prince.
• PF: John Collins, Isaac Jones (two-way). 
• C: *Jalen Duren, Paul Reed, Tolu Smith, Ugonna Onyenso (two-way).

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