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 atosankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter@omarisankofa.
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