7. Bojan Bogdanovic
Bogdanovic suffered a calf injury that has prevented him from playing so far this season. The Pistons hope he can return in the coming weeks, but the 6’7 wing should be back before the trade deadline. Detroit has won just two of their first nine games and are likely to be back in the draft lottery.
Bogdanovic is making $20 million this season and has a $19.0 million salary for the 2024-25 campaign, but just $2 million is guaranteed. The 34-year-old must prove he is healthy for the Lakers to have interest in putting together a package to acquire him headlined by Gabe Vincent. The franchise could keep him on the books or explore their options in the summer, depending on how things shake out.
Bojan Bogdanovic can help cover the Lakers’ two biggest holes. He is a career 39.4 percent 3-point shooter who can net 18 points per game and defend multiple positions. Bogey could take some of the workload off LeBron and improves the Lakers title odds.
Trading a first-round draft pick for a 34-year-old forward is always a gamble, but the Los Angeles Lakers should be all-in on winning another championship. LeBron James turns 39 in December and only has a brief window left as one of the best players in the world. Now is the time, and Bogdanovic improves their odds.