There are less than 24 hours before the NBA trade deadline passes and teams have to accept their rosters in the way they are currently constructed. The Lakers are yet to make a trade this season despite the team being 27-25, sitting outside the top 6 of the Western Conference. All eyes are on the purple and gold for the last few hours before the deadline as they desperately need new energy in their locker room.
If the price for a major upgrade like Dejounte Murray is something the Lakers can’t match, the team can consider plenty of deals for high-level role-players. They’ve been linked with Bojan Bogdanovic multiple times in recent years, with this deadline being the perfect time for the Lakers to bring the veteran forward to LA LA Land.
The Pistons are the worst team in the NBA with a record of 6-43. No move can save their season, but they can start putting in the pieces for a strong future by reshaping the roster. Moving the 35-year-old Bogdanovic would be a good start on that front.
Trade Details
Pistons Receive: Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, 2025 Second-Round Pick (LAC), 2027 Second-Round Pick (LAL)
Lakers Receive: Bojan Bogdanovic, Killian Hayes
The Pistons have already traded away players like Marvin Bagley III this season. Detroit has waited two years for someone to offer them a first-round pick for Bogdanovic, something that they haven’t received. This deal allows them to not only get a strong young player in return but also a few second-round picks.
The Pistons Start Preparing For Next Season
What are the Pistons even playing for? They’re rooted to the bottom of the NBA and will hope they can have a competitive 2024-25 season after this year turned out to be a disaster. The acquisition of Rui Hachimura could be really exciting for a Pistons roster that is low on talented wings. While they could inevitably target a wing with the top-five 2024 draft pick they’re expected to get, they need an NBA-proven player on a similar timeline as them to make their roster better.
Rui Hachimura is averaging 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds this season in a limited role on the Lakers. He could be a big addition for the Pistons as a multi-positional frontcourt piece. Gabe Vincent comes in as a veteran who can rediscover himself after injuries have ruined his year with the Lakers. The fact that this deal also allows the Pistons to dump Killian Hayes is another positive after a tough season for Hayes.
These moves put Detroit in a position to have a roster that can grow together. Bojan was a piece that everyone said would be a great veteran piece for Detroit, but his leadership did very little to improve their on-court record. It’s best if Detroit accepts this season for what it is and prepares for future seasons from now.
The Lakers Add A Veteran Scorer And A Backup Guard
The Lakers have had a series of team needs to fulfil in the last few years such as shooting and playmaking, but it’s been challenging for the franchise. The shooters they sign forget how to shoot consistently after joining them, while the playmakers end up having one-note playstyles which makes them useless in a system with LeBron James. This deal with the Pistons
Bogdanovic is averaging 20.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on 41.5% shooting from three this season. Even if his numbers haven’t contributed to winning basketball, he could be another option that the Lakers can use as a third option. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will always lead the team, but we’ve seen players like D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves emerge as the tertiary stars in wins. Neither can do it consistently, so adding an option like Bogdanovic boosts the options the Lakers have.
Killian Hayes has been a meme for fans all year, averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 assists. He won’t be a high-impact player but is a reasonable option to run 15 backup guard minutes. His size and defensive ability give the Lakers a different guard option they can use. Hayes will also be a more usable option than rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Can This Move Help The Lakers Become A Top-Six Team?
The only thing the Lakers care about this season is having a competitive playoff run. While they wouldn’t mind making it into the postseason after their third play-in tournament appearance in four years, they would prefer to qualify as one of the top-six teams. They’re currently 3.5 games behind the No. 6 seed Phoenix Suns. A deficit like that can be easily recovered, but if the Lakers make the right moves before the trade deadline.
Bojan provides versatile scoring from nearly all levels of the court. His defense has regressed majorly as he’s gotten older, but the Lakers can expect him to be locked in on that end for certain possessions or end-of-game situations. The ideal fit around LeBron and AD was proven to be veterans in 2020, with this move adding exactly that while keeping the nucleus of their young roster together.
The Pistons can carry forward Hachimura’s development. Even if Rui doesn’t materialize into a long-term piece, the Pistons could easily trade him with the years left on his contract.
