Two versions of a Bogdanovic trade with Los Angeles Lakers
What would the Detroit Pistons consider a good trade for Bojan Bogdanovic?
According to Charania and other reports, the Pistons are not all fired up to get rid of Bogdanovic.
First of all, he is really good, and Detroit does not have a lot of really good players. To win, which the Pistons definitely want to do next season, you need really good players.
He also is a great role model for budding stars like Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Saddiq Bey and Jaden Ivey. Bogdanovic’s game also fits like a glove with Cunningham’s, a very good reason not to deal him.
Yes, Bogdanovic will turn 34 in April, but the Pistons contract extension only runs for two years, its not like he ruins their cap for many years (see Griffin, Blake).
And Detroit is not in ‘win-now’ mode, so they can be patient.
To pry Bogdanovic away, Detroit would probably have to get a knockout offer, like this:
Reaves, who put the dagger in the Pistons when they last played the Lakers, is a promising young shooter that Troy Weaver would like. ‘Pat Bev’ would probably be bought out and allowed to go to a contender (unlike Kemba Walker, a team would probably want him), as no need for him to take playing time from Ivey or Killian Hayes.
Two unprotected picks from a team that looks, right now, like it should not be very good in a few years, when LeBron and ‘The Brow’ are gone, would be tempting morsels to Weaver. Remember, Weaver came from the Oklahoma City organization, which revels in stockpiling draft choices.
Does this work?: Tempting. Detroit would think long and hard about this offer. The Pistons do not have a lot of first rounders in the future, they could use a couple more. But losing Bogdanovic would pull the rug out of this season. With no Cade or Bogdanovic, the Pistons would really struggle to score.
Next. When it comes to draft picks, Detroit Pistons cupboard is bare. dark
Now, the possibility that the Lakers might go for this trade are probably 0.001%. To mortgage your future and give up the best young player for a mid-30s player who probably only has a few good years left is a lot. But, if the Lakers want to wallow in the play-in tournament they may have no choice – and not saying the Pistons would says yes.
What the Lakers and Pistons would consider a fair deal is probably way different – which means it actually happening would be surprising.