Report: Detroit Pistons want unprotected 1st-round pick and good young player for Bojan Bogdanovic

It seems that Detroit Pistons will have no shortage of suitors for Bojan Bogdanovic as the trade deadline looms.

However, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, it seems unlikely that the 33-year-old forward will have a new home before the 2022-23 season ends because of the Pistons’ reportedly high asking price.

Apparently, the trade package that would entice Detroit to give away Bogdanovic would have to have an unprotected first-round pick and young prospect.

“I’m going to do a more comprehensive trade piece next week, so I won’t get into all of the details here, but I don’t see Detroit making as many moves as people think,” Edwards wrote. “Honestly, more than one would surprise me. The Pistons’ asking price for Bojan Bogdanović is high — I’m of the understanding that, at this moment in time, they won’t part with him for anything less than an unprotected first and a good young player — because they don’t want to trade him. It would take an overpay for Detroit to part ways with Bogdanović. I don’t think Alec Burks is going anywhere. I also don’t think Saddiq Bey does, though he may be more likely than the first two. Nerlens Noel is the only player I see getting traded, and that’s not even a guarantee. Teams may just wait to see if he gets bought out.”

The Croatian veteran has been stellar for the Pistons in the 2022-23 campaign. In his first season in Detroit, he is recording 21.0 points and 2.4 3-pointers per game, both of which lead the team. Bogdanovic has also been quite efficient, converting 48.4 percent of his field-goal attempts and 41.6 percent of his 3-point shots.

His ability to put the ball in the basket is likely why other franchises, particularly contenders, could be looking to vie for his services. He has also shown improvements in terms of passing as he is dishing out a career-high 2.7 assists per match this season.

But, it is interesting that the Pistons reportedly want to hold onto Bogdanovic when they are near the bottom of the league standings.

Their outlook for this season doesn’t look that bright either because of Cade Cunningham’s season-ending injury. Most franchises that are in similar situations typically want to use the remaining games of their campaigns to develop their youngsters.

It seems that Detroit is optimistic that the 2023-24 season will provide them with an opportunity to finally contend for the playoffs again. With Cunningham and the possibly addition of what might be a top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the team could have enough pieces to make some noise in the Eastern Conference.

A veteran like Bogdanovic would certainly be useful for the organization in such a scenario.

The Pistons have had an unfortunate stretch in the past dozen years. Since the 2009-10 campaign, they have reached the playoffs just twice, getting swept in the first round in both instances. Perhaps their fortunes are about to change.