Veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic has become one of the hottest names on the trade market. However, the Pistons have been telling potential suitors that they plan on holding onto Bogdanovic, according to Marc Stein in his latest Substack post.
Bogdanovic, who signed a two-year extension this season, is the Pistons’ leading scorer with Cade Cunningham out. They’re hoping when Cunningham returns next season they can make a playoff push with the aid of Bogdanovic. Detroit’s current stance could eventually change prior to the trade deadline and it’s also possible the front office is posturing in order to secure an unprotected first-round pick, and possibly more, for Bogdanovic.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Pistons forward Saddiq Bey isn’t upset about being moved to the second unit, he told James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Bey has been thrust into a scoring role off the bench, as coach Dwane Casey has opted to go with a bigger lineup on the first unit. “It’s a good challenge because I’ve always wanted to be one of the guys that does whatever the team needs, whatever role,” he said. “I just try to be that glue guy who can adapt to any role. I think that holds value.”
- The Bulls gave up 150 points to the depleted Timberwolves on Sunday. Coach Billy Donovan said in-game adjustments can only go so far if the effort level is lacking, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes. ‘‘I can switch to zone, I can switch to different pick-and-roll coverages, but if the compete level isn’t high enough collectively as a unit, it doesn’t make a difference,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘When you line up and play, the beauty of it is it doesn’t make a difference what happened yesterday or two weeks ago. You are not escaping the moment of the physicality and what you’ve got to do.’’
- With the Bulls having to seriously consider blowing up their roster, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago ranks their trade assets. DeMar DeRozan tops that list, followed by Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso. Johnson believes DeRozan is the front office’s best hope to replenish the draft capital it surrendered in previous deals.
The Bulls are in a great spot to accumulate a ton of 1st rounders. This is the position you want to be in if you’re going to blow it up.
Blow it up and rebuild.
ZL, DD, AC and even Vooch will bring something back, so blow it up!
Throw Ayo out at PG, White at SG, Williams at PF and rotate Terry in.
Rebuild correctly and don’t depend on Ball being healthy!
After that MN game it is apparent this roster just doesn’t feel like a team. It was telling when reporters asked why this team isn’t putting in effort on defense, he said “You’ll have to ask them”. That is one step short of throwing them under the bus. If they don’t respond to that with continued all-around effort (unlikely), it is time to sell it off as parts and get draft picks to rebuild with.
The problem with blowing it up and getting pics is that you’re going to end up acquiring later round picks from the contenders you’re trading with. They would have to tank hardcore, and then still hope to get ping-pong ball lucky, or their first round pick will go to Orlando.
The other issue is fit, DeRozan goes to who else but Lakers?
Knicks? Toronto?
Toronto needs three point shooters who can stretch the floor. They don’t really need DeRozan. Although that would be a great story.
DeRozan on the Knicks as long as Robinson stays healthy, makes them a legit title contender. They also have the picks and bad contracts to make the salary work. I know Rose is Thibs’ guy, but sending him back to Chicago for a curtain call wouldn’t seem improper.
Bulls losing back-to-backs against the Knicks at home was bad. Zero effort as mentioned in the article and there was a healthy team on the court minus Ball. If he’s the missing piece, this team wasn’t going to go far.
Blowing it up is probably the way to go, but not sure if the assets coming back are going to be substantial. There’s some big contracts that need to be taken on, making it difficult to make happen. DD to the Lakers for Westbrook and the two firsts may be a solid move for both teams, but passed that I’m not sure who/what would be moved for ZL. I’d venture to guess that if the Nets offered up BS along with multiple first rounders unprotected, something may be done there.
Can somebody explain to me why Drummond isn’t playing ?
I agree that DD is their best trade asset (assuming Pat Williams is not available). But that might say more about LaVine’s value than anything else.
IMO, there’s only so much they’re going to get for DD. He has the same negatives now that he had as a UFA (age, defense and the lack of a 3 pt shot). I know some believe the market value of a player changes categorically with every good (or bad) run, as quickly as cheers turn to boos or vice versa. Actual (vs reported possible) trades suggest otherwise. CHI has surrounded DD with 3 pt shooting and defensive flexibility, or at least that was the idea, and any suitor should have that in place if they expect the kind of positive impact he had last year. It’s 1.5 year acquisition, after which he’ll need a new contract starting in his age 35 season. It better hit the ground running. The suitors will be out there, but hard to see it being a large group.
The “Rinse and repeat” Bulls. They will always struggle with roster construction because elite free agents don’t want to play for them. Until they figure that out, they will never be a serious contender. They’re stuck. This is true for 90% of the league.