It wouldn’t be an NBA trade season without rumors floating around about the Los Angeles Lakers. Rob Pelinka has already made one move, acquiring Rui Hachimura from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks. However, many people do not believe that they are done making deals.
Los Angeles is still canvassing the league for more upgrades to their roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis. They don’t seem to have any plans to move Russell Westbrook currently, but if they want to make a big splash, his expiring contract will almost assuredly be included.
While the Lakers have been linked to plenty of players, there is one in particular that they have really set their focus on; Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons. Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report shared the most recent update on the team’s pursuit of the veteran forward.
“The Lakers continue surveying the market for premium shooting. Detroit Pistons’ sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanović remains a principal target, but there is league-wide skepticism on whether the Pistons are really willing to unload the nine-year veteran. It’s been reported that it would take at least an unprotected first-round pick to get the Pistons’ attention.”
That is an asking price that the Lakers can certainly reach. They have a first-round pick in 2027 and 2029 that they can offer up in a deal and pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. Is that something they are willing to surrender to acquire Bogdanovic is another question.
It would be surprising if they targeted another combo forward given that they already added Hachimura, who has broken into the starting lineup alongside James and Davis. If the Lakers were going to make another move, a backcourt-centric one would make sense.
Alas, if 3-point shooting is solely what they are after, Bogdanovic fits the bill. They can figure out how to make it all fit after. On the season, Bogdanovic is knocking down 41.6 percent of his 3-point attempts and averaging a career-high 21.4 points per game. Producing at that level and on a team-friendly extension, it is no surprise the Pistons are holding steady at the current asking price.
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