PF targets

[VicVinegar]

Not sure why Sasser's name comes up in trades. He doesn't have any trade value and he's cheap (under $3m), he also showed improvement towards the end of the season. Really for a 3rd string guard I don't know what else you want. Any random body they'd need to replace him with would cost just as much. Not like he's a cost saving move, unlike Font.

[Kalamazoo317]

Not sure why Sasser's name comes up in trades. He doesn't have any trade value and he's cheap (under $3m), he also showed improvement towards the end of the season. Really for a 3rd string guard I don't know what else you want. Any random body they'd need to replace him with would cost just as much. Not like he's a cost saving move, unlike Font.

He comes up because including him gives you $10 million to work with instead of $7 million. Folks aren't trying to replace him one for one, but trying to use the combined salaries of those two along with actual assets (like second round picks) to find a more likely rotational player. Slim pickings probably, but that's what's being attempted.

[Crymson]

Not sure why Sasser's name comes up in trades. He doesn't have any trade value and he's cheap (under $3m), he also showed improvement towards the end of the season. Really for a 3rd string guard I don't know what else you want. Any random body they'd need to replace him with would cost just as much. Not like he's a cost saving move, unlike Font.

Because of the age-old sports fan tendency to believe that one's team can trade its disposable parts for another team's real value in return.

Unfortunately, Sasser isn't even a third-string point guard. He's totally unable to lead an offense, because he is terrible at breaking down defenses. His poor ability as a lead handler is the reason he was such a bizarre pick, because if he can't do that -- and he couldn't do it even as a college senior against NCAA-caliber defenses -- he was going to be an undersized shooting specialist, and those guys don't often provide value at the NBA level.

I'm happy having him as depth, but I think the Pistons need to find a third-string point guard on the minimum contract market as well.

[the_l_train]

Not sure why Sasser's name comes up in trades. He doesn't have any trade value and he's cheap (under $3m), he also showed improvement towards the end of the season. Really for a 3rd string guard I don't know what else you want. Any random body they'd need to replace him with would cost just as much. Not like he's a cost saving move, unlike Font.

Because of the age-old sports fan tendency to believe that one's team can trade its disposable parts for another team's real value in return.

Unfortunately, Sasser isn't even a third-string point guard. He's totally unable to lead an offense, because he is terrible at breaking down defenses. His poor ability as a lead handler is the reason he was such a bizarre pick, because if he can't do that -- and he couldn't do it even as a college senior against NCAA-caliber defenses -- he was going to be an undersized shooting specialist, and those guys don't often provide value at the NBA level.

I'm happy having him as depth, but I think the Pistons need to find a third-string point guard on the minimum contract market as well.

The way this board overvalues Tobias and under values Sasser is mind blowing.

Sasser is more than capable of being a steady 3rd string PG (...and that is not saying much). I would take him over any 3rd string PG we've had on this team in the last 20 years.

Stop.

[Crymson]

The way this board overvalues Tobias and under values Sasser is mind blowing.

Sasser is more than capable of being a steady 3rd string PG (...and that is not saying much). I would take him over any 3rd string PG we've had on this team in the last 20 years.

Sasser has fallen flat on his face when he's been asked to play lead guard. The ability to break down defenses is absolutely key for any lead guard, and he can't do it.

Stop.

What do you mean?

[the_l_train]

The way this board overvalues Tobias and under values Sasser is mind blowing.

Sasser is more than capable of being a steady 3rd string PG (...and that is not saying much). I would take him over any 3rd string PG we've had on this team in the last 20 years.

Sasser has fallen flat on his face when he's been asked to play lead guard. The ability to break down defenses is absolutely key for any lead guard, and he can't do it.

Stop.

What do you mean?

You are way overstating how "bad" he is. He is fine as a 3rd guard, and stop acting like he is Horace Jenkins.

[Crymson]

You are way overstating how "bad" he is. He is fine as a 3rd guard, and stop acting like he is Horace Jenkins.

Why should this team want a third-string point guard who can't break down defenses? Chances are that the player in question will end up in the lineup for at least 10-20 games or in the event of foul trouble.

I would take him over any 3rd string PG we've had on this team in the last 20 years.

I would not. The sample is certainly skewed by the fact that the Pistons have had bad rosters for the vast majority of that period, but I'd take 2022-2023 CoJo and 2016-2017 Udrih over Sasser.

[the_l_train]

You are way overstating how "bad" he is. He is fine as a 3rd guard, and stop acting like he is Horace Jenkins.

Why should this team want a third-string point guard who can't break down defenses? Chances are that the player in question will end up in the lineup for at least 10-20 games or in the event of foul trouble.

Because 3rd string point guards are usually not good at everything...otherwise they would be the starter or the backup...mind blown?

Sasser can hit the 3, defend decently for his size, and not turn the ball over. You can't ask for much more from your 3rd string point guard. He has always been a steady presence when called upon, and if you can't see that you are not watching.

Guess I forgot how good Udrih and Cojo were at breaking down defenses.

[Crymson]

Because 3rd string point guards are usually not good at everything...otherwise they would be the starter or the backup...mind blown?

Why are you being so aggressive? We're discussing basketball.

Of course third-string point guards will not be good at everything. The most important thing for a third-string point guard is the ability to lead an offense, and the first and most important thing for that is the ability to break down defenses.

Sasser can hit the 3, defend decently for his size, and not turn the ball over. You can't ask for much more from your 3rd string point guard. He has always been a steady presence when called upon, and if you can't see that you are not watching.

Sure you can. You can ask for a guy who isn't easily held to the perimeter and can actually handle the ball.

Like Killian Hayes, he turns the ball over so rarely because he almost exclusively passes from positions of safety rather than when he's penetrating into contact. For Killian, that was in large part because he was a wuss who avoided contact with the ball at all costs. For Sasser, it's because he's got outright poor athleticism on the ball and doesn't have other skills to compensate for that.

Guess I forgot how good Udrih and Cojo were at breaking down defenses.

Passable but nothing special, as you'd expect from a third-stringer.

[the_l_train]

Because 3rd string point guards are usually not good at everything...otherwise they would be the starter or the backup...mind blown?

Why are you being so aggressive? We're discussing basketball.

Of course third-string point guards will not be good at everything. The most important thing for a third-string point guard is the ability to lead an offense, and the first and most important thing for that is the ability to break down defenses.

Sasser can hit the 3, defend decently for his size, and not turn the ball over. You can't ask for much more from your 3rd string point guard. He has always been a steady presence when called upon, and if you can't see that you are not watching.

Sure you can. You can ask for a guy who isn't easily held to the perimeter and can actually handle the ball.

Like Killian Hayes, he turns the ball over so rarely because he almost exclusively passes from positions of safety rather than when he's penetrating into contact. For Killian, that was in large part because he was a wuss who avoided contact with the ball at all costs. For Sasser, it's because he's got outright poor athleticism on the ball and doesn't have other skills to compensate for that.

Guess I forgot how good Udrih and Cojo were at breaking down defenses.

Passable but nothing special, as you'd expect from a third-stringer.

Sincere apologies…I have been aggressive (in this thread especially) and agree I need to chill lol.

Just a Marcus Sasser stan sticking to my guns that he is a keeper.

[Kalamazoo317]

Because 3rd string point guards are usually not good at everything...otherwise they would be the starter or the backup...mind blown?

That's true ... it's also why they're inherently not very valuable.

[tmorgan]

Disagree on Crymson’s assessment of Sasser’s handle — it’s very good, maybe even excellent.

Doesn’t matter much, though. Because he’s short without an outlier vertical, he can’t drive and finish and just doesn’t even try as a result. He uses his handle to create jumpers for himself, which he does rather easily. Breaking down his man is not a problem at all. The problem is, teams know he won’t drive, so even beating his man just results in a pull-up or leaner.

The bigger issue is he doesn’t see the floor worth a crap. I’m sure his sight lines are terrible, but he misses open guys on simple swing passes all the time. He’s an even smaller Cam Thomas, without the ultra-tough shot making — he’s a tiny SG. Not something we need as long as we pick up a vet 3rd PG. Sasser is very AAAA in baseball terms. If a team let him, I’m sure he could average 30 ppg in the G-League while ignoring his teammates.

[the_l_train]

He's been mentioned a few times --- but this Rasheer Fleming guy sounds like the exact fit we are looking for. Getting a guy like this on a rookie contract seems too good to be true. Per HoopsHype, check out this quote from a random scout (it's like the dude is trying to describe EXACTLY what we are looking for):

An NBA scout told HoopsHype: “Fleming’s my sleeper. Imagine a freakishly long, more athletic Ryan Anderson. 40% from three on low volume, but a menace defensively. He’s a smart cutter, decent team defender, and underrated rebounder. Mid-to-late first-round teams needing shooting should take him. He’ll contribute year one.”

https://hoopshype.com/lists/aggregate-2025-nba-mock-draft-6-0-post-combine-scouting-and-intel/

I've seen mocks with him in the lottery, but also falling to the end of the 1st round. Outside of watching some highlights, really don't know much more about him. Any St Joseph fans out there, or college basketball junkies who can chime in?

[Cowology]

He’s an even smaller Cam Thomas, without the ultra-tough shot making — he’s a tiny SG.

Pretty much. Sasser isn't a "3rd string PG", he's a backup SG. I'm OKish if we want to pretend he's our 3rd stringer for a year due to salary constraints, but if he's actually needed due to injury or something we'd have to make another move. Regardless, he holds very little value and it's perfectly fine to aggregate his salary.

[GreekAlex]

He's been mentioned a few times --- but this Rasheer Fleming guy sounds like the exact fit we are looking for. Getting a guy like this on a rookie contract seems too good to be true. Per HoopsHype, check out this quote from a random scout (it's like the dude is trying to describe EXACTLY what we are looking for):

An NBA scout told HoopsHype: “Fleming’s my sleeper. Imagine a freakishly long, more athletic Ryan Anderson. 40% from three on low volume, but a menace defensively. He’s a smart cutter, decent team defender, and underrated rebounder. Mid-to-late first-round teams needing shooting should take him. He’ll contribute year one.”

https://hoopshype.com/lists/aggregate-2025-nba-mock-draft-6-0-post-combine-scouting-and-intel/

I've seen mocks with him in the lottery, but also falling to the end of the 1st round. Outside of watching some highlights, really don't know much more about him. Any St Joseph fans out there, or college basketball junkies who can chime in?

I’ve only watched his highlight videos but he has the exact skill set that we need.

I’ve been screaming his name since I started looking for potential draft candidates.

[Invictus88]

He's been mentioned a few times --- but this Rasheer Fleming guy sounds like the exact fit we are looking for. Getting a guy like this on a rookie contract seems too good to be true. Per HoopsHype, check out this quote from a random scout (it's like the dude is trying to describe EXACTLY what we are looking for):

An NBA scout told HoopsHype: “Fleming’s my sleeper. Imagine a freakishly long, more athletic Ryan Anderson. 40% from three on low volume, but a menace defensively. He’s a smart cutter, decent team defender, and underrated rebounder. Mid-to-late first-round teams needing shooting should take him. He’ll contribute year one.”

https://hoopshype.com/lists/aggregate-2025-nba-mock-draft-6-0-post-combine-scouting-and-intel/

I've seen mocks with him in the lottery, but also falling to the end of the 1st round. Outside of watching some highlights, really don't know much more about him. Any St Joseph fans out there, or college basketball junkies who can chime in?

I’ve only watched his highlight videos but he has the exact skill set that we need.

I’ve been screaming his name since I started looking for potential draft candidates.

I don't see how this guy falls to us. We'd have to trade into the 1st to get him. I also don't see how 4.5 3's (39%) a game this year can be considered low volume.

[GreekAlex]

He's been mentioned a few times --- but this Rasheer Fleming guy sounds like the exact fit we are looking for. Getting a guy like this on a rookie contract seems too good to be true. Per HoopsHype, check out this quote from a random scout (it's like the dude is trying to describe EXACTLY what we are looking for):

An NBA scout told HoopsHype: “Fleming’s my sleeper. Imagine a freakishly long, more athletic Ryan Anderson. 40% from three on low volume, but a menace defensively. He’s a smart cutter, decent team defender, and underrated rebounder. Mid-to-late first-round teams needing shooting should take him. He’ll contribute year one.”

https://hoopshype.com/lists/aggregate-2025-nba-mock-draft-6-0-post-combine-scouting-and-intel/

I've seen mocks with him in the lottery, but also falling to the end of the 1st round. Outside of watching some highlights, really don't know much more about him. Any St Joseph fans out there, or college basketball junkies who can chime in?

I’ve only watched his highlight videos but he has the exact skill set that we need.

I’ve been screaming his name since I started looking for potential draft candidates.

I don't see how this guy falls to us. We'd have to trade into the 1st to get him. I also don't see how 4.5 3's (39%) a game this year can be considered low volume.

I believe he’s a junior and my guess would be to trade into the first round.

I have zero expectations of him being available at 37.

[Invictus88]

I’ve only watched his highlight videos but he has the exact skill set that we need.

I’ve been screaming his name since I started looking for potential draft candidates.

I don't see how this guy falls to us. We'd have to trade into the 1st to get him. I also don't see how 4.5 3's (39%) a game this year can be considered low volume.

I believe he’s a junior and my guess would be to trade into the first round.

I have zero expectations of him being available at 37.

You are too quick! I already edited my post to fix that!

[MotownMadness]

Feel like we just sign a Bobby Portis type of player and call it a day for now

[GreekAlex]

Feel like we just sign a Bobby Portis type of player and call it a day for now

Very likely. It all boils down to the cost of acquisition for whatever player is targeted.