5 prospects to know for the Orlando Magic’s second-round pick
5 prospects to know for Orlando Magic’s second-round pick
Marcus Sasser, Houston
There has been a lot of hand-wringing of late about the Orlando Magic and the point guard position.
Both Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz are extension eligible this summer and potentially free agents next summer. There are still plenty of questions about both although both have probably earned the opportunity to prove themselves again.
Jalen Suggs is also very much in the mix at point guard too when needed. And the Magic are a team that does not mind going non-traditional at the guard spot. They do not mind going non-traditional at any spot, valuing versatility and playmaking at every position.
The rumors that Orlando could take Arkansas guard Anthony Black with the sixth pick have only raised the questions about the Magic’s future at point guard further.
Still, the team could use a third point guard on the roster. It certainly would have come in handy early in the season when they played for a few weeks without any natural ball handlers.
So if the Magic do not go for a point guard early in the draft, using it on a senior second-round pick to man that third point guard spot makes a bit more sense as insurance.
Getting someone as good as Marcus Sasser would be a bonus.
At this point, Sasser, a 6-foot-1.25 point guard with a 6-foot-7 wing span, knows exactly what he is. He is a defensive disruptor and a good leader who led Houston’s revival these past two years.
In his senior season last year with the Cougars, he averaged 16.8 points per game and 3.1 assists per game with shooting splits of 43.8/38.4/84.8. Those bode well for his future in the NBA.
Sasser projects as a solid spot-up shooter and someone capable of working in pick and rolls and working in pull-up games. He is a smart player who understands how to control the pace of a game and find the right pockets to score.
His lack of size is his biggest drawback. He is not a great finisher nor is he a fantastic playmaker off the dribble.
But Sasser has everything else a team could want from a point guard. And he is a high-level prospect to go in the second round.