Trade Deadline Rumors: Pistons Want BIG Haul For This Veteran

With the trade deadline fast approaching, contending NBA teams are watching over the worst teams in the league like vultures, looking for any trade pieces that could get them over the hump. The Detroit Pistons are one such target, with forward Bojan Bogdanovic the center of speculation. He won’t come cheap, though; according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, the standing asking price for Bogdanovic is at the very least an unprotected first round draft pick and a talented young player.

Bojan Bogdanovic tonight:

29 PTS
5 AST
2 STL
10-15 FG
5-6 3P

Leading the Pistons in scoring this season. pic.twitter.com/clXpd13xFQ
— StatMuse (@statmuse) January 5, 2023

Though they are mired in a deep rebuilding period, the Pistons still stand to lose something by trading away their forward. Bogdanovic’s scoring and veteran presence would leave the Pistons almost completely rudderless, with No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham out for the season. Considering they acquired him for nearly nothing last offseason, though -Kelly Olynyk, Saben Lee and cash considerations- it’s not likely they gain less than they gave up for him.

Bojan Bogdanovic has been an off-ball scoring MACHINE this year:

➤ 3.1 off-screen possessions/75 (97th%)
➤ 1.12 off-screen PPP (99th%)
➤ 4.5 movement points/75 (91st%)
➤ 46.7% catch-n-shoot 3P% (94th%) / -1.33 openness rating (10th%)

Major trade target moving forward! pic.twitter.com/eR3YNqfye3
— BMORE🪐 (@bmoretalks_ball) January 6, 2023

Bogdanovic is making $19.3 million in what is his final contract year. Edwards III also mentioned some other players on the Pistons roster who are garnering attention from the league's competitors, like veteran guard Alec Burks and center Nerlens Noel. In his view, it’s unlikely the Pistons trade some or even any of these players before the deadline, though, as the team’s high asking price has other General Managers hoping to get them on the buyout market instead.