The Detroit Pistons look like they are heading toward another losing season as Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is undergoing surgery and will miss the remainder of the season. Already tied for the fewest wins in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets at only seven, Detroit is heading toward another cellar-dwelling season.
Despite all of the losses that are probably on the horizon, the Pistons are a team that many people are going to be keeping an eye on. While they aren’t going to be in the playoff race themselves, Detroit could have a major impact on it.
That is because they have one of the more sought-after players in the NBA, Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic was acquired from the Utah Jazz ahead of the season in exchange for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee, a deal that surprised many people given how many contenders were pursuing the veteran sharpshooter.
Those pursuits have not stopped. In fact, they may be even more determined now. Bogdanovic signed a two-year, $39.1 million extension shortly after the trade, which makes him even more valuable as he is locked into a team-friendly deal beyond this season. The second year of the extension is also not fully guaranteed.
Who should we be keeping an eye on in the Bogdanovic market? According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, playoff-caliber teams are checking in on him. The Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks are just a few of the teams mentioned.
“Bogdanovic’s strong play has led numerous playoff-caliber teams around the league to express interest in trading for him, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and Atlanta Hawks, among several others, league sources told HoopsHype.”
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Los Angeles is the only team on that list in which some negotiations have been revealed. They made an offer that was centered around a single future first-round pick with some protections. That was rebuffed by Detroit, who is standing firm on wanting a future unprotected first-round pick for negotiations to get serious.
The Hawks used a lot of assets to acquire Dejounte Murray, but none of the teams linked to Bogdanovic have a ton of assets to move. As a result, Atlanta has as good a chance as any to make a competitive offer. Dallas could use some more offensive punch around Luka Doncic, while the Heat have been in the market for a power forward to help replace P.J. Tucker.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers & Miami Heat Updates
Bogdanovic would be a huge upgrade for any of these teams as he is averaging a career-high 21 points per game. He is doing it efficiently despite the lackluster supporting cast, as he is right on the cusp of the 50/40/90 shooting club this season.
