The Detroit Pistons are in an interesting position when it comes to Bojan Bogdanovic.
The sharpshooter is having one of the best years of his career and the team still has the second-worst record in the NBA with their franchise player out for the season.
It makes sense that the Pistons would consider moving the 33-year-old Bogdanovic while the price is at high, especially if they can get the right package in return.
But they don’t have to do anything, as Bogdanovic was extended and is the type of player the Pistons will need when they finally start to turn the corner as a franchise.
Detroit has all of the leverage here, and with so many teams reportedly calling about Bogdanovic, they can hold out for a great deal or just keep him if that deal never emerges.
Detroit Pistons: The price for Bojan Bogdanovic
The Pistons would undoubtedly love to get a young talented player and a first-round draft pick for Bogdanovic if they are going to move him, and one team to watch is the Phoenix Suns.
According to Bleacher Report, the Suns may try to package two players to get one, and have a deal that could fit the parameters of what the Detroit Pistons are looking for:
"“The Suns could also look to send out Cam Johnson, who is hoping to return shortly from a knee injury. The team wasn’t able to reach an extension before the season and could look to send him out with Crowder. The Suns have been linked to Kyle Kuzma, John Collins, Bojan Bogdanović, Eric Gordon and KJ Martin.”"
The Suns may be getting desperate, as they have lost five in a row and dropped to 5th in the crowded Western Conference standings. They look like a team that needs an injection of life and scoring, but what are they willing to give up to get it?
Detroit Pistons: Suns trade for Bojan Bogdanovic
Here is a trade that would work financially and would seemingly satisfy the Pistons’ demands if they are going to move their leading scorer.
Suns fans may look at this and say it is too much to give up for a 33-year-old, and Pistons fans might say that a player coming off injury and one who hasn’t played with what will likely be a late first-round pick isn’t enough for a player as talented as Bogdanovic, who has a chance to end the season in the 50/40/90 club.
But there are also reasons that both teams would do it, and it does fit the type of deal that Detroit would be looking for, and allow the Suns to continue to try and win a title with a rapidly closing window.
Detroit Pistons: Pros and cons of trade with Suns
From the Suns point of view it makes a lot of sense, as their time to win is now and Bogdanovic would definitely help them. Crowder hasn’t even played this season and the Suns decided not to extend Johnson, who has only played eight games this season, though he is due to return soon.
A first-round pick doesn’t help them much and they’d be likely to try to attach it in a trade at some point anyway, so this seems like a no-brainer for them.
But what about Detroit?
Cam Johnson is 26-years-old and would immediately give the Pistons an upgrade of shooting on the wing. He shot over 42 percent on 3-point shots last season and was hitting 43 percent on over six attempts per game before getting hurt in this one.
Johnson is not a great defender, but he is better than Bogdanovic and would replace most of his 3-point shooting. He’s also a better long-term fit with Saddiq Bey on the perimeter. The problem with Johnson is that he is on an expiring contract, so the Pistons could be getting a short-term rental.
Crowder is pretty much just a contract in this deal, as the Pistons aren’t going to offer him an extension either, and he may decide he doesn’t feel like playing for a rebuilding team, which is fine. It’s also possible he’d be flipped to a third team, as Detroit really has no use for him and some contender might.
The first-round pick will likely be in the 20’s, but Detroit could use that pick in a possible trade for a player or try to find another late-first gem. There have been plenty of those around the league lately, so it’s very possible.
They could get a good look at Johnson to see if he’s a player they’d like to keep around long term, but wouldn’t be oboglibated to bring him back if it didn’t work out, giving them even more cap space in the offseason.
It’s the type of deal that would at least make the Detroit Pistons pause, but would it be enough to trade Bojan Bogdanovic, or should they just keep him?