The Marcus Sasser chatter has put the Detroit Pistons in a position with more paths than usual, and the Dallas Mavericks keep popping up as a team to watch.
Marc Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Dallas has emerged as a suitor for Sasser, and that lines up with the idea that the Pistons were already looking at him as the most obvious name to move after trading up for Ebuka Okorie and exercising the team option on Daniss Jenkins. Sasser had already been viewed as a possible sweetener in a larger deal, and the Mavericks could give Detroit several different directions to explore.
One possibility is a straightforward swap for a rotation piece. Detroit could look at a player like Naji Marshall or Max Christie if the goal is to change the skill set at the back end of the roster.
Marshall brings the kind of all-around edge that fits the description of a junkyard dog, while Christie’s value is tied heavily to his 3-point shooting. Dallas, though, has little reason to move Christie given his contract and the way his game fits next to Cooper Flagg.
There also may not be much else available at the low end of the Mavericks’ payroll unless the Sasser discussion gets folded into a bigger transaction.
PJ Washington stands out as a more interesting name for Detroit, especially if the Pistons are trying to address power forward. Washington has long looked like a useful small-ball tweener who can space the floor, rebound and protect the rim a bit. A framework involving Sasser and LeVert could be enough to get Dallas’ attention, particularly with Flagg in the picture and the team’s financial commitment to Daniel Gafford.
Washington’s deal runs four more years, with raises from $19-24 million, which gives it a chance to carry value as the salary cap climbs. It would not be a headline-grabber, but it would fill a clear need, especially if the rumors about Tobias Harris being gone turn out to be true.
The biggest swing is Kyrie Irving, though that remains a long shot. Sasser by himself obviously does not get Detroit there, but if the Pistons are already in the market and Dallas is open to talking about him, the framework could theoretically expand after other targets fall through.
Could Jalen Duren be in play in a bigger move that brings back Gafford and Kyrie? Maybe.
But that feels like the outer edge of the board. The more realistic outcome is still Sasser landing somewhere for a couple of second-round picks.
Even so, the Mavericks do give Detroit options, and that alone keeps the Pistons’ next move worth watching.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have Found Another Shooting Flyer Worth Watching
The Pistons offseason has already started to take on the look of a team trying to keep building depth around its young core, with the front office using the draft and undrafted free agency to hunt for players who might fit a clear developmental lane. After selecting Stanford freshman Ebuka Okorie in the 2026 NBA Draft, Detroit also brought in Langston University sharpshooter Orlando Thomas, a player whose college rise ended with Second-Team All-American honors at the NAIA level and enough buzz to earn a Summer League invitation.
Thomas is still very much in evaluation mode, but the appeal is easy to see for a club that values defense and perimeter shooting. He projects as a developmental prospect who could help in those areas if his game translates, and the Pistons may have a longer look at him through Summer League and possibly with their G League affiliate, giving him a path to stick if he keeps making shots and proving he can hold up on the other end. [Read more 🡒]
Tobias Harris Just Put The Pistons In A Tough Spot
The Pistons are heading into the offseason with their frontcourt plans still unsettled, and Tobias Harris sits right at the center of it. Detroit has not locked down new deals with its upcoming free agents, and Harris remains one of the most important names on the board because of what he brought as a scorer and a steady veteran voice. At the same time, the team is evaluating ways to improve at power forward, which makes this a delicate balance between continuity and change.
Harris gives Detroit a kind of reliability that is not easy to replace, especially for a team trying to keep moving up the East. But the longer the contract situation drags on, the more the Pistons have to weigh whether to prioritize his familiarity or chase a different type of fit in free agency or trade talks. However that resolves, this is one of those decisions that can quietly shape the rest of the roster. [Read more 🡒]