NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Detroit Pistons are doing Bojan Bogdanovic wrong. Why is he being held hostage? It’s time for the Pistons to do the right thing and trade the shooter to a contender or at least out of Detroit.
Once you do your time, you should be allowed to go free. Bogdanovic has spent 3 seasons with the Detroit Pistons and nothing has come of it. Well, maybe his trade value has gone up, and yet, the Pistons have yet to free him.
What are they waiting for? Is there something going on that we don’t know about? Last season was the perfect time to trade Bojan Bogdanovic but he’s still there hosting up 3’s and watching the losses pile up.
The Pistons are in the midst of a youth movement and due to that, the 34-year-old shooter does not fit into the plans. And yet, they still haven’t traded him. Rumors have flooded Bogdanovic for the past season and a half dating back to last season’s trade deadline. Many expected the Detroit Pistons to make a move then but they held on. This season, a trade needs to happen.
The Pistons are not in the hunt for a playoff spot. They’re in the hunt for the No. 1 pick. Is Bogdanovic being used as a veteran voice in the huddle or what? No one can truly figure out why he’s still a member of the Detroit Pistons.
Teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Miami Heat have been tied to him and each one could offer the Pistons some value in return.
Will The Detroit Pistons Trade Bojan Bogdanovic
This has to be the year he’s traded. He’s making $20M this season but has a partially guaranteed contract for 2024 at $19M. Why not take advantage of that? Most teams keep a vet to help usher in a new era but the Pistons don’t have an identity, let alone a plan for the future. He has some value, just not for Detroit.
While players are being traded to contenders in the twilight of their careers to chase a ring, Bogdanovic is being held hostage by a team that honestly has no use for him. The Pistons organization keeps making these mind-boggling mistakes either in the draft, trades, or free agency.
As far as his play goes, Bojan Bogdanovic can still get buckets. This season, since his return from injury, he’s averaging 17.5 points while shooting .367 from deep in 30.5 minutes of play. Can he still find his shots? Yes. He’s putting up 13.5 FGA per game as well. Translate that to a contender, and who wouldn’t want to surrender a second-round pick for him?
The Pistons know what they have to do but what they’re banking on is for Bogdanovic to start leading a charge. It may not equal team success but they need his stock to rise a little more. According to reports, the Detroit Pistons are asking for a nice return. But how big of a return are they looking for? While he’s solid, he’s not James Harden, Damian Lillard, Zach LaVine, or DeMar DeRozan. A second-round pick and possibly a role player are all they will get for him.
