Marcus Sasser has been lights out for the Detroit Pistons in the last two games, which is going to force them to ask some tough questions about their future when it comes to guards.
Even though he had missed most of the season, Sasser doesn’t look to have any rust, as he’s averaged 18.5 points per game in the last two games and shot 8-of-12 from long range.
He seems to have already usurped Daniss Jenkins on the depth chart and last night played more minutes than Jaden Ivey, who finished the game with two points.
Sasser’s ability to stay ready even when he’s not in the rotation is a skill that’s tough for some players to harness and one that might eventually get him a more regular spot. But he’s also going to force the Pistons to ask some tough questions.
What happens to Dannis Jenkins with Marcus Sasser back?
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The most immediate player affected by Sasser’s hot return would appear to be Daniss Jenkins, who didn’t get any action last night while Sasser played 24 minutes.
It was reported that the Pistons would [convert Jenkins’ two-way contract](https://pistonpowered.com/detroit-pistons-next-roster-move-is-crystal-clear) into a full-time deal and I doubt Sasser’s return has changed that plan, as they can just cut Isaac Jones (which they need to do anyway before his contract becomes full guaranteed in less than a week) and have a spot for Jenkins, who has proven to be a reliable emergency backup.
He and Sasser would give the Pistons inexpensive options that would allow them to invest money more heavily in other positions, [particularly power forward](https://pistonpowered.com/detroit-pistons-injuries-may-force-trajan-langdon-into-action), which has a big question mark lingering over it this season because of the expiring contract of Tobias Harris.
Sasser likely won’t affect Jenkins that much, as he’s going to be a third point guard and has shown he can handle it, so the Pistons will likely lock him up to a minimum deal anyway, but there are other guards who could be affected.
Does Marcus Sasser make Jaden Ivey expendable?
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If you only watched last night’s game, you’d think Sasser was the top-five pick, not Ivey, as he outplayed him significantly.
I’m not going to overreact to one game, but Ivey has had a bumpy return, and it’s not a great sign when a guy who just returned from an injury is already playing more minutes. Is Ivey on a limitation or is he just being outplayed? It’s a fair question that JB Bickerstaff has mostly dodged.
Sasser returning and shooting the ball well may make the Pistons wonder if they really need Ivey, especially when he’s due a big raise. Again, not overreacting too much to one or two games, but right now, I’d far rather pay Sasser $5 million next season than pay upwards of $20 million for Ivey.
That could certainly change, and Ivey has plenty of time to re-establish himself as the starter and number two option behind Cunningham. And given the injury issues the Pistons have had this season, it’s not a bad thing to have too many guards.
But if Sasser continues to outplay Ivey, it will make one decision easier for Trajan Langdon, who may decide to go with the cheaper options for the future.