Hawks, Heat, Lakers, Mavs linked to Bogdanovic

The Detroit Pistons look like they are headed for another losing season as Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, has surgery and will miss the rest of the season. Already tied for fewest wins in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets at just seven, Detroit is headed for another basement season.

Despite all the losses likely on the horizon, the Pistons are a team that many people will be watching. While they won’t be in the playoff race themselves, Detroit could have a big influence on that.

That’s because they have one of the most sought-after players in the NBA, Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic was acquired from the Utah Jazz ahead of the season in exchange for Kelly Olynyk and Saben Lee, a deal that surprised many people given the number of contenders chasing the veteran sharpshooter.

Those pursuits have not stopped. In fact, they may be even more determined now. Bogdanovic signed a two-year, $39.1 million extension shortly after the transaction, making him even more valuable as he is locked into a team-friendly deal after this season. The second year of the renewal is also not fully guaranteed.

Who should we keep an eye on in the Bogdanovic market? According to Michael Scotto from HoopsHype, playoff-caliber teams control him. The Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks are just a few of the teams mentioned.

Bogdanovic’s strong play has led numerous playoff-caliber teams in the league to express interest in trading for him, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks, among others, league sources told HoopsHype. “

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Los Angeles is the only team on that list to have some negotiations revealed. They made a bid centered around a single future pick in the first round with some protection. That was rejected by Detroit, which is determined to want a future unprotected first-round pick for serious negotiations.

The Hawks have used a lot of resources to acquire Dejounte Murray, but none of the teams linked to Bogdanovic have a lot of resources to move. As a result, Atlanta has an equally good chance of making a competitive bid. Dallas could use some more offensive punches around Luka Doncic, while the Heat were in the market for a power forward to help replace PJ Tucker.

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers & Miami Heat Updates

Bogdanovic would be a huge upgrade for any of these teams as he averages a career high 21 points per game. He does it efficiently despite the lackluster supporting cast as he’s on the cusp of the 50/40/90 shooting club this season.