We are just about one month away from the NBA Trade Deadline, which means teams are beginning their preparations for deals around the league. While some teams are still on the fence about which direction they want to take their franchise in the coming weeks, some have already established what they will be doing.
One of the teams that already know their plan is the Detroit Pistons. While they came into the season with some optimism about making a push for the NBA Play-In Tournament, they are again amongst the worst teams in the NBA. Detroit will almost assuredly be a seller ahead of the deadline as they are already 7.5 games behind the 10th-place Chicago Bulls.
There are a few veterans on the roster that Detroit is open to trading in Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel, who were acquired from the New York Knicks during the offseason on a salary dump. The most coveted player on their roster, however, is Bojan Bogdanovic.
The sharp-shooting forward was a surprise addition by the Pistons ahead of the season, as they acquired him from the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee. He signed an extension with the Pistons shortly after the deal was announced and interest in him has not subsided.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as a potential landing spot for Bogdanovic, but the logistics are tough to sort through. They may not be able to meet the lofty asking price that Detroit has set. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports, the Pistons are looking for at least one first-rounder combined with a young player possessing upside or additional draft capital.
“Are any of them the talented young player Detroit is partly searching for to offload Bojan Bogdanovic? The Cavaliers are indeed a Bogdanovic suitor, sources said, but it will be rather difficult, and perhaps impossible, for Cleveland to reach Detroit’s lofty asking price for the veteran sharpshooter.”
Fischer also mentioned the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Lakers as other teams, in addition to the Cavaliers, that hold interest in a potential trade for Bogdanovic.
“At this juncture, the Pistons are seeking at least one first-rounder and either a young player with upside or additional draft capital, sources said, plus Cleveland has company in Dallas, Phoenix and the Lakers, among other teams in pursuit of Bogdanovic.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
The Cavaliers should do everything in their power to acquire Bogdanovic as it could keep him from landing with their opposition. Their Central Division rivals, the Milwaukee Bucks, are reportedly in on the high scoring forward as well.
“Another potential target for Milwaukee: Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons,” wrote Matt Moore of Action Network. “There’s not much feeling that the Pistons are eager to move their best player with Cade Cunningham out, but as the team transitions more towards draft positioning this season Milwaukee will look to bid if the Pistons make Bogdanovic available.”
It feels as if it is only a matter of time until the Pistons seriously consider trading Bogdanovic. Compiling more future assets would seem to be their best course of action as the postseason does not look to be in their future. With Cade Cunningham sidelined for the remainder of the season, the Pistons closing up shop and turning their focus to the 2023-24 season seems to be on the horizon.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks & Cleveland Cavaliers Updates
As for the Cavaliers and Bucks, they will have to figure out competitive offers to present to Detroit. They are far from the only teams showing interest in Bogdanovic as the Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers have varying degrees of interest.
