The Lakers still want to acquire Bojan Bogdanovic, but they’re steadfast in their refusal to give up an unprotected first-round draft pick.
Even after the Los Angeles Lakers traded for forward Rui Hachimura on Monday, the speculation they will pull off another trade before the Feb. 9 trade deadline has increased.
Could that next trade be for Detroit Pistons sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic? He has been linked to the Lakers quite often since the summer.
Although Hachimura should help L.A. in multiple ways, he will not be enough to turn it into a championship contender. It still needs more 3-point shooting to space the floor for LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, and Bogdanovic would fit the bill if the price is right.
But the price has been the sticking point. The Pistons want an unprotected first-round pick, while the Lakers only want to give up one with some sort of lottery protection.
“Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanović continues to be the name most often tied to the Lakers in league circles, but the Pistons are looking for an unprotected first-round pick, at a minimum, in a potential trade, according to league sources,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha wrote. “The Lakers’ preference is to only give up a lottery-protected first for the 34-year-old Bogdanović, though that could change when up against the trade-deadline clock.”
Bogdanovic is having arguably the best season of his career. He’s averaging 21.5 points a game while shooting 42.3% from 3-point range and 49.1% overall.
The Lakers have reportedly talked to the Pistons about a package that would give them much-improved 3-point shooting and frontcourt depth.
The NBA’s trade deadline is less than a month away, and pretty soon teams around the league will start to get serious about making deals.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been actively hitting the phones, looking for a trade that would make them championship contenders again. However, they haven’t found anything palatable yet.
Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated reported L.A. has talked to the Detroit Pistons about not only acquiring sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic but also center Nerlens Noel.
“I’ve heard the Lakers and Pistons have discussed a deal that would include both Bogdanović and Nerlens Noel. Since the Pistons are demanding draft assets in any deal for Bogdanović, it’s sort of a given that the Lakers would have to surrender a first-round pick to make a deal. Maybe they make a second deal to fortify the rotation further. Will they be willing to trade both picks that are currently trade-eligible? The sense around the league is they won’t. But we’ll see.”
Bogdanovic and Noel would be an interesting package. The 6-foot-7 veteran forward is having a career season, averaging 21.2 points per game while shooting 41.5% from 3-point range on 5.9 attempts per game.
He could be a major answer to the Lakers’ 3-point shooting woes. They rank 26th in 3-point shooting percentage, and when they lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday, the Mavs loaded the paint whenever LeBron James had the ball, as they knew the Lakers wouldn’t be able to hit from the outside.
Noel is only averaging 11.8 minutes a game this season, but he could give L.A. a shot-blocking center in limited minutes. He is putting up 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots a game per 36 minutes.
The Lakers were reportedly made what seems like a solid offer for Pistons 3-point bomber Bojan Bogdanovic, only to say no.
Although the Los Angeles Lakers have won six of their last eight games, everyone knows they need to make a significant move or two to maximize LeBron James’ narrowing championship window.
They have been reluctant to give up their 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks unless it would be for a package that would make them contenders again, which may be a reasonable stipulation.
One rumored target for Los Angeles has been sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, who is playing some of the best ball of his life this season for the Detroit Pistons.
According to Marc Stein, the Lakers apparently said no to a package that would’ve had them surrender only one future first-round pick, along with Kendrick Nunn and Patrick Beverley.
“There has been little — yet — to indicate that the Lakers’ approach will change,” Stein wrote. “They decided in the offseason that packaging both of their available first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 is too steep a price to pay to trade for the Indiana duo of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield. And they also decided that trading one of those picks with no draft protections attached (along with the expiring contracts of Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn) was too high a price for Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanović. A case can be made that the Lakers should take the one-pick plunge for a better-than-ever Bogdanović — maybe even if the Pistons refuse to lower their price — given the promising form they’ve displayed in 2023 without the injured Anthony Davis to work their way back into the West’s play-in mix. The question, however, remains: How much would Bogdanović, as well as he’s playing, really raise this team’s ceiling?”
Could it be that the Lakers’ objection was the lack of protection on the pick Detroit wanted?
Trading for Bogdanovic could be the best move they can make, at least of the ones that have been rumored. Some would say the package of Myles Turner and Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers would yield better results, but such a package would reportedly cost two first-round draft picks, plus Russell Westbrook, whom the Lakers are suddenly reluctant to trade.
James has made it clear he doesn’t care about those future picks; he simply wants to win another championship. But does the team’s front office feel the same urgency?
Here is an interesting mock trade that could bring the Lakers closer to championship contention right away.
Trade talks around the NBA are starting to get louder, and of course, some of those rumors involve the Los Angeles Lakers.
With a 12-16 record, they’ve been playing much better since starting 2-10, particularly on the offensive end, and there is a sense among some people, especially within the team, that one or two more pieces would result in a championship contender.
Twitter user Lakers All Day 24/8 suggested a three-way trade that would supply the Lakers with three useful forwards, as well as a guard who could be a solid replacement for Russell Westbrook, who would have to be moved in this scenario to make salaries match.
I need this to happen soon. One protected top 10 pick to each team. Rozier nice in case we lose lonnie, bojan nice forward that can space the floor. PJ and oubre expiring contracts that can be resigned. @JeanieBuss#Lakers lakers trade pic.twitter.com/2a8n3Jkqd1
Maybe they’re not trading for Zach LaVine. But who else could be available?
The Lakers had a recent resurgence, but still have a losing record this season. As of right now, they’re on the outside looking in on the playoffs.
Considering that they owe their first-round pick to the Pelicans in a swap, however, they do not have the option to bottom out and tank. Instead, with Anthony Davis playing some of the best basketball of his life, Los Angeles will likely pursue deals to improve their roster.
It seems far more likely that Los Angeles pursues “smaller deals” involving mid-sized contracts like Patrick Beverley and Kendrick Nunn rather than a bigger trade centered around Russell Westbrook and one or multiple future first-round picks.
That means that there could be multiple trades on the horizon, and based on what we know so far from all of the reporting, these are the most likely trade candidates for Los Angeles.
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“Los Angeles is reportedly prioritizing shooting in its conversations with other teams, which is obviously an area where the Lakers have plenty of room for improvement.
“‘Following a 2-10 start, the Los Angeles Lakers, now 11-15 and three games out of sixth place, have turned their season around and are seen as a key team in the trade market this season,’ wrote Shams Charania of The Athletic. ‘The Lakers are prioritizing shooting in their conversations with teams, and have discussed packages including salaries and a protected first-round pick for Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanovic, league sources, who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, tell The Athletic. They’ve also discussed concepts involving New York’s Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier, sources said.'”
Bogdanovic is someone L.A. has been interested in dating to the summer. He is having a career season, averaging 21 points a game on 50.8% overall shooting and 43.7% from 3-point range.
Fournier has been viewed as a disappointment by the New York Knicks, and although he has historically been a good 3-point shooter, his accuracy is down this season. Meanwhile, his teammate, Reddish, has been thought to have potential as a 3-and-D player, but hasn’t panned out yet.
This mock trade would be the grand slam that would make the Lakers an elite team and give LeBron James a shot at his fifth NBA championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers may be 5-10, which is the fifth-worst mark in the NBA, but it is starting to look like their roster is better than that record would indicate.
They’re riding a three-game winning streak and are coming off a 123-92 blowout victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Their role players are starting to give them consistently strong play.
However, by no means are they championship contenders.
It has been clear for a while that L.A. would need a trade or two to even come close to becoming contenders, and it is unclear if such trades will ever present themselves before the trade deadline on Feb. 9, 2023.
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report proposed a three-team whopper that would likely catapult the Lakers into contender territory.
“The following is legal before December 15, when most recently signed free agents are eligible for trade. The parameters could shift in a month with additional names potentially in play:
The Lakers trade Russell Westbrook, Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn and two future first-round picks (2027 and 2029).
The Brooklyn Nets trade Kyrie Irving to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Detroit Pistons trade Bojan Bogdanović, Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Outside of L.A., the “who gets what” is subjective based on what the Nets prioritize most. They could swap out Irving for Westbrook or take on the Lakers’ lower-priced role players for significant luxury tax savings.”
Just as they were a few months ago, the Lakers are reportedly interested in trading for sharpshooting forward Bojan Bogdanovic.
Among the umpteen summer trade rumors involving Russell Westbrook was one that would’ve sent him to the Utah Jazz for sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic.
The Los Angeles Lakers apparently had real talks with the Jazz, who, reportedly, even made L.A. an offer that seemed pretty favorable, but the Lakers said no.
Bogdanovic was eventually dealt to the Detroit Pistons, a cellar-dweller that has a much better chance of winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes than of reaching the play-in tournament.
Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports indicated the Lakers may try again to acquire Bogdanovic at some point.
“He’s a player that I think a lot of winning teams, a team looking to get to the second round that’s never gotten there or a team that wants to push their way to really be a title threat (would want)… Phoenix was at the top of everyone’s list in terms of suitors that have capital to pay in addition to talent and the salaries that made sense. … The Lakers were obviously involved. I got a list of other teams that I think have called and contacted, but nothing too crazy at this point in terms of actual conversations that are still ongoing. I do know Detroit is getting calls on him just like any team (when) we’re getting close to the Dec. 15 area where a lot of players who signed (in free agency last summer) are going to be eligible (to be traded). That’s kind of the unofficial start of the trade window. But also he’s playing really well for this team right now.”
Bogdanovic is certainly playing well for Detroit. He is averaging 20.1 points a game on 50% overall shooting and 41.6% from 3-point range on 6.7 attempts per contest.
He would dramatically improve the Lakers’ putrid 3-point shooting, and at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds, he could slide into their thin power forward spot, even though he is lacking on the defensive end.
Zach Lowe “would peg him as maybe the least likely of all these Jazz guys to get traded.”
When the Jazz traded Rudy Gobert and then Donovan Mitchell, everyone assumed that the rest of the veterans would be on the way out as well.
Utah moved Patrick Beverley (included in the exchange for Gobert) to the Lakers, and the Jazz sent Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pistons. It was only a matter of time until valuable players like Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and perhaps others were traded for young pieces and/or draft picks as well.
Nick Friedell: “Jordan Clarkson is gone, are you kidding me? Jordan Clarkson will be long gone.”
Brian Windhorst: “I suspect Jordan Clarkson is playing in a way that hastens that maneuver … He is totally playing with maximum effort … I think he would love to have an opportunity to go to someplace that is not in a full rebuild.”
Andrew Lopez: He might want to stay because he gets everything he wants down the stretch of a game. Everything was running through Jordan Clarkson [against the Pelicans]. It became the Jordan Clarkson show … He is going to enjoy this process while he is still there.
After unexpectedly winning three consecutive wins to start the new campaign, Clarkson tweeted that the Jazz could go “81-1” during the 2022-23 season. He was joking, but what happens if Utah does actually win more games than expected — and how would that impact his potential trade future?
man tough one tonight! 81-1 still on the table! lol lets gooo!
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne has reported that Utah’s front office is “not in any hurry” to trade Clarkson and that they will “let them play” so long as they are playing well.
“[Los Angeles] tried to land former Laker Jordan Clarkson from the Jazz before it was made clear that Utah owner Ryan Smith had no intentions of letting him go.”
Admittedly, that sounds a bit silly and dramatic for a player like Clarkson.
Shams is Shams, but…
Color me skeptical that Ryan Smith said “Sure, you can trade Joe Ingles, you can trade Royce O’Neale, you can trade Rudy Gobert, you can trade Donovan Mitchell, you can trade Bojan Bogdanovic, and try trading Mike Conley. But Jordan Clarkson? HANDS OFF.”
Zach Lowe, however, echoed these sentiments as well. Lowe argued that Clarkson is actually the “least likely” of the Utah veterans to get traded (via The Lowe Post):
“I’ve heard the same stuff that other people have reported that they’re just super reluctant to move Clarkson. They’re really fond of him for whatever reason. I would peg him as maybe the least likely of all these Jazz guys to get traded.”
Lowe also noted that Clarkson has shown improvement as a playmaker.
The playmaking of Jordan Clarkson tonight was absolutely marvelous. What a play. pic.twitter.com/JzJaySmgVN
He has already displayed significantly more of a willingness to pass than we have ever seen from him in previous seasons. He is averaging 5.3 assists per game, which is much higher than his career average (2.6) in previous NBA seasons.
But most impressive are his numbers on potential assists. The league defines potential assists as any pass that leads directly to the end of a possession (e.g. shot, foul, or turnover).
Clarkson is averaging more potential assists per possession (0.12) than he has in any season since his rookie campaign in 2014-15. For comparison: He had his career-low in this measurement last season.
This suggests two possible outcomes here, and Utah’s fans should be thrilled with either option.
Clarkson isn’t the type of player who is going to prevent your team from tanking for someone like Victor Wembanyama by winning too many games. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year can remain on the team during their rebuilding efforts.
But if he keeps playing as well as he is playing right now, his value could return the coveted first-round pick in a potential transaction — and that is not something Utah was able to get when they traded Bogdanovic or Beverley.
Don’t expect to see the Pistons tank for Victor Wembanyama.
There comes a time in every rebuilding organization’s timeline when they decide they are no longer selling assets but instead buying.
That is exactly what the Detroit Pistons did by trading for Bojan Bogdanovic, a valuable 6-foot-7 forward who has averaged at least 17.0 points per game in four consecutive seasons, from the Jazz.
Before becoming the Pistons general manager, Troy Weaver was a longtime executive for the Thunder. During his time with the organization, he was the right-hand man for Oklahoma City’s Sam Presti. The Thunder are a team that knows a thing or two about the art of tanking.
Since taking over the front office, Weaver has implemented similar strategies in Detroit. Early in Weaver’s tenure, the Pistons bought out Blake Griffin and traded Christian Wood, Luke Kennard, and Derrick Rose.
Dan Wetzel described it as one of the all-time great tank jobs in NBA history (via Yahoo):
“Weaver took over as general manager last offseason, inheriting a going-nowhere, veteran-laden roster. Rather than continue to tread water or wait to bottom out in the standings, he proceeded to trade away nearly everyone.”
Every single player who was on Detroit’s roster in 2019-20 was gone by September 2021.
The losing seasons netted them rising star Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. They selected Jaden Ivey, another potential star, this year.
Cunningham and Ivey are joined by several other recent first-rounders including Saddiq Bey, Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III, Killian Hayes, and (most recently) Kevin Knox.
Now, however, Detroit has indicated that they are no longer prioritizing getting the highest draft pick possible by finishing at the bottom of the standings.
I’m pretty excited for this Pistons team. Adding Bogdanovic to be the adult in the room with this young core is a good move. https://t.co/v1moTwtUlq
Bogdanovic was an instrumental player on a team that had the best record in the NBA during the 2020-21 season. He has already played in eight playoff series during his NBA career thus far.
Nerlens Noel, the defensive-oriented big man who they also acquired from the Knicks this off-season, has made the playoffs multiple times since turning pro as well.
Even though Detroit isn’t going to contend to make the Eastern Conference Finals this year, they’re likely no longer going to be in the race for the No. 1 overall pick.
Instead, it’s more likely they feel they have their young core in place and want them to experience winning. Like the Grizzlies in 2021 and the Cavs and Timberwolves last season, this is a young team that could exceed their expectations and perhaps they can even make the playoffs.
