Bojan Bogdanović Trade Is A Slam Dunk For Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons have acquired ahead Bojan Bogdanović from the Utah Jazz for heart Kelly Olynyk and guard Saben Lee.

Whereas the transfer seem odd on the floor, on condition that each groups are going by way of a rebuild, and Bogdanović is 33 years of age, there’s logic in Detroit’s choice making right here.

Bogdanović will assist Cunningham and Ivey

Final summer time the Pistons took Cade Cunningham first general, and this yr chosen Jaden Ivey fifth. The guard duo will want all of the spacing doable to ascertain driving lanes, and Bogdanović is likely one of the higher motion shooters within the NBA.

Whereas Olynyk too was a very good shooter, he wanted his toes set, and took extra time loading up, making it simpler for protection to rotate out to him. Bogdanović is faster on the set off, can catch and shoot through odd angles, and performs each ahead spots, which provides each Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren extra minutes on the heart place.

So sure, whereas it might seem odd on the floor why a rebuilding group would tackle a 33-year-old veteran, it is all with a eager eye on long-term enhancements.

Bogdanović netted 18.1 factors for Utah final season, and has averaged 18.4 over his three seasons there. He is a extremely competent scorer who has by no means relied on his athleticism, suggesting he’ll age gracefully.

The offensive injection additionally means much less strain on Cunningham to persistently having to provide factors, which means a extra targeted strategy from the aspect of Detroit in direction of rounding him out correctly as a participant. At occasions, Bogdanović will permit for each Cunningham and Ivey to dig into their playmaking abilities, that are to be honed over the subsequent few years.

Utah’s logic

With each Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert discovering new properties over the course of the offseason, it was time to interrupt up the core. Royce O’Neale was despatched to Brooklyn as effectively just a few months in the past, and it should not come as a shock if Mike Conley finds a brand new dwelling inside lengthy both.

The prize for Utah right here was Lee, which all issues thought of was a modest one. The 23-year-old has performed rotation minutes for Detroit the previous two seasons, averaging 5.6 factors and three.3 assists for his profession. Is there a much bigger function forward for the purpose guard? Time will inform, however it’s curious Utah could not squeeze out extra for Bogdanović all issues thought of.

They do not even get monetary flexibility. Whereas Bogdanović is on an expiring contract, Olynyk has a contractual assure of $3 million subsequent yr off a $12.1 million wage.

After all, the Jazz may simply be getting began. They may take a look at Olynyk’s deal as the right connective piece to get them into different conversations, which appears doubtless attributable to their newfound organizational path of aiming for increased odds within the lottery subsequent summer time.

Total, Detroit got here away trying additional good on this commerce. They not solely bought the higher participant, however additionally they acquired further future wage cap flexibility.

Some would possibly argue that the addition of Bogdanović means much less ping-pong balls for Detroit subsequent season, however nothing of that kind can ever be assured. The Pistons aren’t prone to be very aggressive even with this improve, and if they’re, one may argue success within the common season can be of large worth to the group’s children.

(Do observe that the Pistons owe their 2023 first-round decide to the New York Knicks, however it’s protected by way of the highest 18 alternatives.)

Except famous in any other case, all stats through NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleansing the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All wage data through Spotrac. All odds through FanDuel Sportsbook.