NBA Rumors: Pistons circling back to Mavericks on possible trade?

There were no shortage of trade rumors involving the Detroit Pistons and Bojan Bogdanovic at least year’s trade deadline and before the 2023 NBA Draft.

Many of them involved the Dallas Mavericks, who were reportedly trying to trade the 10th pick for more “help now” talent. That never happened and instead the Pistons held onto their veteran sharpshooter.

Detroit has apparently set a price for Bogdanovic that no team is willing to meet, so keeping him makes some sense, as they need his shooting and veteran presence. Detroit is seeking a first-round pick for Bogdanovic, who is 34-years-old and spent the end of last season on the bench with an injury, though it may have been of the tank variety.

Their high asking price won’t stop teams from sniffing around, and apparently the Mavericks may be trying to circle back to deals that were discussed at the trade deadline and before the draft.

According to Marc Stein (SUBSCRIPTION) the Mavs would love to unload Tim Hardaway Jr. and JaVale McGee and could look to the Detroit Pistons. A deal that sent Bogdanovic to Dallas for THJ and McGee would not be a tempting one for the Pistons, but if the Mavs were to throw in another asset or two?

NBA Rumors: Pistons circling back to Mavericks on possible trade?

The Pistons aren’t going to trade Bogdanovic unless it makes them better, so if a deal with Dallas is done, expect Detroit to get back a first-round pick or a young player in return for matching salaries.

There are a few different ways Dallas could do this:

• Adding a protected first-round pick in the deal
• Taking back Marvin Bagley III
• Adding a young player like Josh Green or Jaden Hardy to the deal

Even with one of these things (the pick or taking on Bagley’s contract would probably have the most appeal) added to the mix, it doesn’t make this a no-brainer for the Detroit Pistons, as Hardaway is worse than Bogdanovic (though four years younger and friends with Cade Cunningham) and Green and Hardy aren’t great fits with what they already have.

So like at the trade deadline, I expect these rumors to go nowhere, as Bogdanovic is still more valuable to the Pistons on the court than anything they are being offered in a trade.