Lakers Rumors: LA Still Looking to Add This High Scoring Forward With Trade Deadline Nearing
The NBA trade deadline is just hours away. By 12 p.m. Pacific, the NBA's top contenders will have their rosters pretty much solidified (of course, outside the buyout market).
The Lakers have been one of the most active teams this trade deadline, adding 6-foot-8 forward Rui Hachimura and swinging a three-team deal for D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt. You can read our trade grade articles for Hachimura here, and the three-team swap here.
However, the Lakers may not be done yet. James L. Edwards III of The Athletic reported that the Lakers are among the three teams still vying for Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic.
"Bogdanovic has garnered serious interest from the Knicks, Bucks and Lakers, per league sources. However, none of those three really has anything that would entice the Pistons to part ways with the 33-year-old forward who is having the best offensive season of his career. It feels like a third team would have to get involved for Detroit to get the type of return it would need to move its coveted trade chips before the deadline."
Edwards does say he doesn't think either of the three teams will be able to entice the Pistons, which doesn't make much sense considering Bogdanovic is on an expiring contract and the Pistons are headed for the lottery this year. They may as well dump him for some draft capital, as they look ahead to next season.
The Lakers could still trade their first-round pick in 2029, and Bogdanovic, who's averaging 21.3 points per game this season, could be worth it. He would add yet another top scorer on this team, and would space the floor as a knockdown shooter. This year, Bogdanovic is shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 41.6 percent from deep.
While I don't see the Lakers adding Bogdanovic before the deadline, it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
