Pistons sign first-round pick to rookie contract

The Pistons signed No. 25 overall pick Marcus Sasser to his rookie scale contract, according to the official transaction log at NBA.com.

A four-year college player at Houston, Sasser was a two-time All-AAC selection and a consensus 2023 First-Team All-American. In 2022-23, the 22-year-old averaged 16.8 points, 3.1 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game and shot .438/.384/.848 across 36 contests (30.8 MPG), earning AAC Player of the Year honors.

The Grizzlies initially held the No. 25 pick but sent it to the Celtics as part of the Marcus Smart trade. Boston subsequently flipped it to the Pistons, who packaged two future second-round picks along with this year’s No. 31 in order to move up six spots for Sasser.

Sasser will join a talented young Pistons backcourt that includes two recent lottery picks, Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey.

Assuming he receives the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale amount, which virtually every first-rounder does, Sasser will earn approximately $2.6M as a rookie and nearly $13.5M if he plays out his full four-year rookie contract. The first two years are guaranteed, while the third and fourth are team options.