Marcus Sasser gives Mavericks an off-ball weapon their guard rotation needs

The Dallas Mavericks' point guard room is thin. Marcus Sasser, Sergio De Larrea, and Kyrie Irving are the only point guards on the roster, with Sasser's fit as a true point guard being questioned by some fans before the season even begins.

This leaves Dusty May with little to work with when deciding what to do when Irving is off the court or out of the lineup, but Cooper Flagg should help in this area. Flagg played some point guard as a rookie, and having him or Irving as the team's initiator will give them the best chance to win.

Marcus Sasser can play both guard positions

To be maximized, the other guards need to be able to play on and off the ball. Thankfully for Sassser, he falls into this category.

Sasser is 6-foot-1, but his 6-foot-7 wingspan gives him a good build to play some shooting guard as well. His length allows him to defend some shooting guards and compete on that end rather than being a liability, but his offensive skills make him a good fit to play off the ball.

Sasser is making an impact without the ball at training camp

Dusty May talked about Sasser's performance after Wednesday's training camp practice, and he has liked what he's seen so far.

"Sass, first of all, I’ve been impressed with his cutting," May said. "He’s been a real contributor when he wasn’t even directly involved in the play. He’s had a lot of those hidden plays that really make the team go. His shooting, his decision-making has been very sound, and defensively, he played at Houston, so we know we’re going to get his best effort."

Doing the little things is key for role players, and the fact that Sasser is thriving as a cutter should help him earn some playing time. Cutting allows Sasser to expose a hole in the defense, and once he receives the ball, he can either go score or find an open teammate on the perimeter.

Why Sasser's 3-point shooting will be crucial for the Mavericks

May also said that his shooting has been good, and this could be his best skill for Dallas. The Mavericks shot 34.4 percent from three last season, which ranked 26th in the NBA, and Masai Ujiri put a heavy emphasis on adding more shooting around Flagg. They can't afford to struggle as much as they did from long range once again, and Sasser gives them a reliable floor spacer who can't be left open.

Sasser shot a career-high 41.5 percent from three for the Detroit Pistons last season, and he'll be looking to build on this success in Dallas. He is electric off the catch or dribble, has deep range, and plays with confidence.

These are all things that a good shooter needs, and as long as he can knock down shots and hold his own defensively, he'll be able to play off the ball.

Sasser playing on and off the ball will allow May to use him in different lineup combinations, consequently giving him a better chance to earn a bigger role. The Mavericks need players who can do multiple things, and with Sasser putting together a well-rounded training camp, he could find himself as a key difference-maker off the bench.

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