Detroit Pistons trade up for Houston's Marcus Sasser with No. 25 pick in NBA draft 2023
The Detroit Pistons traded up six spots late in Thursday's first round of the 2023 NBA draft to select Marcus Sasser, a scoring guard from Houston.
A team source confirmed the Pistons will send the No. 31 overall pick in this draft to the Boston Celtics and two future second-round picks to grab Sasser at No. 25.
Sasser, a 6-foot-2 senior, helped lead the Cougars to the No. 1 ranking and a No. 1 seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament as a first-team All-American, the school's first since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1984. He averaged 16.8 points, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 36 games. A Dallas native, he made 38.4% of his 3-pointers on 6.9 attempts per game. He shot 36.9% on 3s over his four seasons.
TV ANALYSIS: Pistons draft pick Marcus Sasser 'fits well in the Motor City'
His outside shooting was particularly appealing to a Pistons squad that ranked 22nd in the category last season, hitting 35.1%. That, along with his toughness and defensive fire, made him a coveted prospect for both general manager Troy Weaver and new head coach Monty Williams.
Sasser turns 23 in September. He had season-ending toe surgery in December 2021 and played through a groin injury at the end of last season. He joins a backcourt that already includes three recent top-seven draft picks in Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes.
The Pistons with their first pick Thursday at No. 5 overall took wing Ausar Thompson out of the Overtime Elite league. They do not own any more picks in this draft.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons trade up for Marcus Sasser in NBA draft at No. 25
