The Detroit Pistons were involved in roughly 10,000 trade rumors involving Bojan Bogdanovic last season, as the veteran sharpshooter was on the wishlist of just about every good team.
The problem is that none of them want to give the Pistons what he is worth and expect Detroit to settle for second-round picks or cast-off players who are far less valuable than Bogdanovic.
So Bojan is still a Piston for now, but that could change depending on what happens next season and the subsequent offseason.
There is a good chance Bogdanovic will be gone after next season one way or another and the Detroit Pistons should already be eyeing his possible replacement.
Detroit Pistons: Bojan Bogdanovic’s contract
Bojan Bogdanovic is set to make $20 million next season, all of which is guaranteed, but after that it gets murky.
The final year of his deal is only partially guaranteed at $2 million, which is appealing to teams that don’t want to take on any long-term risk for a guy who will be 35 years old. The Detroit Pistons will have until June 29th of next year to fully guarantee his deal.
So his contract not only makes him easier to trade but also gives the Pistons an out in case of injury. Given those two factors, it’s hard to see Bogdanovic in Detroit past next season, so Troy Weaver and company need to start looking for his replacement.
The ideal power forward for the Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons already have Ausar Thompson as the wing of the future and Jalen Duren as the center, so their real weakness is at power forward, where they will try to pigeonhole Isaiah Stewart.
I am a huge Stewart fan but believe his ultimate destiny may be as a small-ball center and super sub who plays both big spots as needed.
The ideal guy next to Thompson and Duren will be someone who can stretch the floor with 3-point shooting. Hopefully, Stewart will prove to be that guy, but he hasn’t yet. Defensively, the Detroit Pistons need more athleticism at the position, a guy who can protect the rim and someone who can occasionally slide over to the wing position if needed.
There is one player out there who fits this description very well, could be available and fits the timeline of the Detroit Pistons perfectly.
Jaden McDaniels should be a free-agent target for the Detroit Pistons
If the Detroit Pistons do trade Bojan Bogdanovic or simply buy him out after next season, Jaden McDaniels would be a great replacement.
The 22-year-old McDaniels had a mini-breakout season last year when he averaged 12 points, four rebounds a block and just under a steal in 30 minutes per game for the Timberwolves. McDaniels, who narrowly missed the NBA All-Defensive team last season, takes pride in his defense and has potential on the perimeter as well as protecting the rim.
He also shot just under 40 percent from 3-point range last season, so really checks all of the boxes for the type of player you’d want to pair with Jalen Duren in the frontcourt. The best part is that he is still very young, so is likely to keep improving.
Jaden McDaniels’ contract
The challenge would be acquiring him, as McDaniels will only be a restricted free agent at the end of next season, so Minnesota will have a chance to match any deal.
And they will up to a point, as they see McDaniels as a budding star. But the Timberwolves will have over $129 million invested in three guys for the 2024-25 season, so filling out the rest of the roster won’t be easy.
They could certainly try to move Karl-Anthony Towns next season, which would potentially open up more cap space, but given his contract, he won’t be that easy to trade and get equal value. Same for Rudy Gobert, who has one of the worst contracts in the league.
So if the Detroit Pistons were to swoop in with a big offer for McDaniels, they might be able to steal him away, as Minnesota is not likely to go that deep into the luxury tax (the new CBA makes it more punitive) to keep their 4th or 5th best player.
He could be available and the Detroit Pistons could certainly use a guy like him, so Jaden McDaniels is a name to watch over the course of next season.