Mavericks already have an uncomfortable Marcus Sasser conversation on their hands

There's no doubt Marcus Sasser is a score-first guard, someone who is primarily suited to play shooting guard on offense, yet the Dallas Mavericks are going to need Sasser to assume their primary backup point guard role in his first year with the team next season. However, Sasser hasn't proven that he has the attributes to do this throughout his three-year NBA career thus far, despite the shooting he projects to bring to Dallas' offense.

An uncomfortable Marcus Sasser conversation has emerged before he even plays a game for Dallas. Can he handle being the Mavericks' backup point guard?

Despite only being 6-foot-1, Sasser thrives as someone who can create his own shot at all three levels, as he's been a bucket-getter off the bench for the Detroit Pistons over the last three seasons. Given Sasser's lack of size, though, there's an obvious question regarding whether he can develop his playmaking to match what a point guard needs to bring to the table at the NBA level, as he's averaged only 2.2 assists per game in the last two seasons.

Sasser doesn't have the playmaking to be Dallas' No. 1 backup PG

Sasser has great poise when attacking the basket, as he knows how to effectively decelerate and use crafty finishes around the rim to deter shot blockers, but given the Mavericks' lack of guard depth, he'll need to fulfill a bigger role for Dallas than he was asked to in Detroit over the last three seasons.

With Kyrie Irving having not played since March of 2025 and coming off a torn ACL, the Mavericks severely need secondary guard play, and Sasser projects to be Dallas' first guard off the bench as things currently stand ahead of next season. However, his lack of playmaking could be a huge damper on his ability to be a tried-and-true point guard for the Mavericks.

Dallas' first-round pick, Sergio De Larrea, could help address this issue after his playmaking was on full display in Summer League, but De Larrea has no NBA experience and will likely be less reliable out of the gate compared to someone like Sasser. Dallas also just traded second-year guard Ryan Nembhard, so perhaps even more prominent than the lack of guards on this roster is the lack of playmaking.

Dallas will be over-relying on Sasser as a PG as things currently stand

Of course, Cooper Flagg will help aid in this department, but there's no denying the Mavericks could still serve to trade for another guard who can create for both himself and others. This isn't to say Sasser won't be a serviceable scorer off the bench for the Mavericks next season, but there are obvious questions over if he can run an NBA offense and be a primary distributor.

There's no doubt the Mavericks are in a position to try and trade for another guard to help aid Sasser and this dilemma before the offseason is over, but they've been quiet in terms of making the substantial moves fans thought they would to try and add another playmaker/point guard to this lineup.

Dallas has added some shooting and young talent this offseason, but they haven't addressed their primary needs of getting another playmaker and point-of-attack defender, two areas in which Sasser doesn't project to help much based on his current skillset and offensive repertoire.

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