The Los Angeles Lakers may be starting to get into a bit of a groove right now. They have a three-game winning streak and have taken six of their last seven contests after their 131-99 dismantling of the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.
But some feel they still need one more piece in order to seriously contend for this season’s NBA championship. There are rumors that the team is in the market for a player that could put it over the top, and many of those rumors surround the Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso.
Months ago, Los Angeles was rumored to be interested in veteran Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report feels it should make another run at him and that his cost may be less than that of LaVine.
Via Bleacher Report:
“For starters, the 34-year-old looks totally out of place on the rebuilding Pistons. He’ll escape his prime long before they enter their own, so a split seems best for both parties. Turning him into a draft asset or an upside-rich prospect should be a no-brainer for Detroit’s front office.
“Second, his trade cost shouldn’t be exorbitant. He is a solid player, but not at all a spectacular one, and his current contract has only $2 million guaranteed for next season, per Spotrac. Suitors may only view him as a partial-season rental, and no one is paying a premium for an aging non-star in this situation.
“Finally, his game looks like an effortless fit for this roster. His outside shot (career 39.4 percent) is the best part of his arsenal, but he also has the size to shoot over smaller defenders and the ball skills to slip past bigger ones. He’d be a helpful safety net for L.A.’s stars, spreading the floor when they’re on it or assuming control of the offense when they aren’t.”
Bogdanovic hasn’t played yet this season due to a right calf strain, but last season he averaged a career-high 21.6 points a game while shooting 48.8% overall and 41.1% from 3-point range. Assuming he still has game, he could become a big weapon for Los Angeles and keep the floor spaced in its set offense for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Outside shooting has been a problem for the Lakers this season. Only LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura are shooting over 35.0% from 3-point land, and as a whole, they’re just 25th in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage.