The Los Angeles Lakers are playing much better after a terrible start to the season, but they still need a player or two on the team that can stroke the rock on a consistent basis. That player could come in the form of a guy the Lakers just played over the weekend.
Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic had his best game of the season on Sunday as he dropped 38 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. His shooting display was so impressive that the Lakers are now apparently interested in trading for him.
Bogdanovic is now among their targets, according to Shams Charania, though the Pistons are reluctant to trade a key veteran figure.
“The Lakers are prioritizing shooting in their conversations with teams, and have discussed packages including salaries and a protected first-round pick for Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanovic, league sources, who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, tell The Athletic. They’ve also discussed concepts involving New York’s Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier, sources said.
While Bogdanovic is a target for the Lakers — they are among roughly a dozen teams to inquire about him, offering first- or second-rounders — Detroit is showing no urgency about moving him. In fact, the Pistons have expressed to rival teams a significant reluctance about moving Bogdanovic, sources said.”
The Pistons acquired Bogdanovic in an offseason trade with the Utah Jazz, and signed him to a two-year, $39.1 million extension.
As of now, the Lakers seem content with Russell Westbrook in the sixth-man role. He has thrived there while averaging 14.4 points, 7.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from three. In his three games as a starter this season, Westbrook averaged 10.3 points per game and shot 28.9 percent from the field.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
However, the team is just 11-16, but it’s a much better record from a dreadful 2-10 start. Adding more shooters around LeBron James and Anthony Davis could most certainly help.
The 33-year-old Bogdanović is averaging a career-high 21 points per game this season and is shooting an impressive 43.7 percent from deep. His shooting is forcing team to stretch the floor and it would open up far more spacing for James to drive to the basket or for Davis to work out of the post.
