Lakers News: Top 3 Pistons Trade Candidates For Los Angeles

This Detroit team as currently comprised is headed nowhere fast anyway.

At 2-15, the 2023-24 Detroit Pistons are hardly in danger of becoming the kind of scrappy defense-first juggernaut that used to give prior incarnations of your Los Angeles Lakers fits in several NBA Finals series. LA has faced Detroit in three Finals, in 1988, 1989 and 2004, losing twice. 

The Isiah Thomas-era Bad Boys and the Ben Wallace-era redux gave starrier Lakers squads fits with swarming, ugly, grinding defensive play. Both clubs were upstart irritants in their day, capable of demolishing the confidence of any Hall of Fame opponent in a decidedly non-glamor market.

This year's vintage will not be conflated with those clubs, but it's not wholly lacking for talent, either. Beyond promising young ex-lottery picks Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson, there are a few veteran pieces well worth a gander for tonight's opponent, your 10-8 Los Angeles Lakers, who seem to be struggling in two specific areas of need: three-point shooting and perimeter defense.

The returns (at some point) of Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent should help alleviate the perimeter defense problem somewhat, so that isn't quite as pressing, although there is one guy in Detroit who could theoretically help with that, if he ever gets healthy.

Health is a recurring question for all three of these veterans, and may give the Lakers pause. None of these players is quite at the level of some other, much splashier Central Division names that have been connected with Los Angeles recently, but all could have value for Los Angeles specifically.

1. Bojan Bogdanovic

Bogdanovic, a veteran 6'7" power forward gunner, has long been linked with LA, since even before he was flipped to Detroit from the Utah Jazz. He's earning $20 million this year, and Rui Hachimura would make the most sense as an intriguing fit for Detroit, playing the same position, who's not quite the same win-now guy as Bogdanovic could be, though Hachimura has a higher ceiling.

During his first year in Detroit last season, Bogdanovic averaged a team-most 21.6 points on elite .488/.411/.884 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists. That 41.1% three-point rate arrived on six attempts per. He's been hurt all year with a calf injury.

2. Joe Harris

Harris is LA's other slightly overpriced veteran sharpshooter who may be worth a gander for an LA team that, as of this writing, ranks 29th in triple tries a night, tied with... the Detroit Pistons. LA's 33.8% conversion rate is 28th-best, behind two of the West's worst, the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies.

His health problems are a bit more nagging than Bogdanovic's. He's also making a similarly insane $19.9 million contract, but unlike Bogdanovic, his is an expiring deal that, if need be (i.e. if health problems persist through the winter), could be flipped by LA at the trade deadline this season.

Harris has suited up for just seven games with the Pistons this year. He's currently shelved with a sprained AC joint. His numbers in Detroit are rough, so let's examine his last full season, with the Brooklyn Nets last year. He averaged 7.6 points on .457/.426/.643 shooting splits, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 dimes. That 42.6% three-point rate came on a volume 4.5 attempts. At his peak, he's made 47.5% of 6.4 triple tries and 47.4% on 5.1 attempts in separate Brooklyn seasons (2020-21 and 2018-19), while playing 65+ games in each. Bogdanovic is the more reliable player generally health-wise, though that hasn't been the case this year. But Harris is worth a look, contract aside.

3. Monte Morris

Morris, a veteran combo guard, has yet to play this year, and was hampered by injuries while with the Washington Wizards last year, but could be nice Gabe Vincent insurance as a tactical point-of-attack perimeter defender capable of knocking down an open three. He's on an expiring $9.8 million deal, and could also be a Vincent replacement if Vincent's medical troubles continue to linger... though Vincent is much better and I wouldn't quit on him quite yet.

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