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.
Via The Athletic (h/t Lakers Daily):
“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.
