The 2024 Summer Olympics have concluded and Team USA has captured yet another gold medal in men's 5-on-5 basketball. Los Angeles Lakers stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis took center stage in Paris, helping the Americans overcome some of their toughest tests to date.
Although the Olympics are behind us, it's hard to overlook what transpired in Paris and not wonder how much better the Lakers would be if they acquired one of the summer standouts.
FIBA rules are different than NBA rules, which is one of the primary reasons the transition from Europe to the Association is so difficult. That adjustment has become more manageable in recent years, it seems, as the list of international players turned All-Stars has grown exponentially.
Even beyond the likes of Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Jokic, there's a deep cast of international players thriving in supporting roles.
As the Lakers look for ways to make last-minute improvements to the roster, the Olympics may have provided a vehicle to do so. Los Angeles received a unique opportunity to scout otherwise overlooked talent and evaluate whether they can be positive contributors in the NBA.
Some of those players are already on NBA teams, but there's a sleeper worth considering in that group of three Olympic standouts whom the Lakers should attempt to acquire.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia
While not the Atlanta Hawks standout whom most are discussing, Bogdan Bogdanovic would be a perfect fit with the Los Angeles Lakers. Far from an unknown commodity, he's a seven-year veteran who has averaged scoring marks in the double-figures in each of his NBA seasons.
An excellent shooter who can create for himself and others, Bogdanovic could offer a needed change of pace for the Lakers' offense in a sixth man role.
Bogdanovic finished the 2023-24 regular season averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.0 three-point field goals made in 30.4 minutes per game. He shot 42.8 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc, and was third in the NBA at 92.1 percent at the free throw line.
Considering the 31-year-old did all of this while Trae Young was in and out of the lineup due to injuries, it's intriguing to consider what he could do with a healthy Lakers squad.
The 6'5" and 225-pound guard is capable in both catch-and-shoot and isolation situations. He shot 37.5 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and 36.6 percent on pull-ups from beyond the arc in 2023-24, and checked in at 39.3 percent and 43.2 percent the season prior.
Bogdanovic also shot 52.1 percent on drives in 2023-24, thus rounding his multifaceted scoring abilities into form and making him the perfect late-offseason addition for the Lakers.