The Los Angeles Lakers are in active trade talks with the Atlanta Hawks for Serbian guard Bogdan Bogdanović, Clutchpoint’s Anthony Irwin reported on Friday, Jan. 31.
“Since trading D’Angelo Russell to the Brooklyn Nets for Dorian Finney-Smith, the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to score anywhere near the rate they were with Russell on the roster. With the NBA trade deadline looming, Rob Pelinka is looking to address that issue and, according to sources with knowledge of the situation speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Lakers and Atlanta Hawks are in talks that would send trade target Bogdan Bogdanović to Los Angeles,” Irwin wrote.
Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino and another salary filler are believed to be involved Lakers players in the talks, Irwin added, which could expand into “a bigger trade.”
Jake Fischer reported on “The Stein Line” on Thursday, Jan. 30, “that momentum is building toward a Bogdanović trade, with confidence rising that Atlanta could ultimately have multiple options when it comes to moving him.”
It turns out the Lakers are one of those options.
Bogdan Bogdanović’s Down Season
Bogdanović sat out the Hawks’ last three games due to personal reasons as he remained away from the team. The veteran sharpshooter is having the worst season of his NBA career.
In 24 games off the bench for the Hawks, who have prioritized younger wings Dyson Daniels and No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher, Bogdanović is just averaging 24.9 minutes, a steep decline from 30.4 last season.
As a result, the 32-year-old guard is only producing 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists. His shooting percentages have also dropped to 37.1% overall and 31% from the 3-point line as he struggles to find his rhythm in his limited role. Last season, he shot 42.8% overall and 37.4% from the 3-point line.
Bogdanović has three seasons left in his four-year, $68 million contract.
A change of scenery especially in a team like the Lakers, who needed his scoring and playmaking, could rejuvenate him.
Lakers’ Shallow Backcourt Depth
Over their last two games, the Lakers have relied on rookie Bronny James and Shake Milton to back up Austin Reaves after Vincent went down with a knee injury.
James, coming off a career game in the G League, was badly outplayed by Tyrese Maxey as the Lakers lost a winnable game against the shorthanded Philadelphia 76ers 118-104 on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Philadelphia stars Joel Embiid, Paul George and several 76ers rotation players did not play. The Lakers, however, lost Anthony Davis to an abdominal muscle strain in the first quarter, which threw off their game plan.
The Lakers’ shallow backcourt could not stop Maxey, who exploded for 43 points.
Bronny missed all five shots and committed three turnovers in 15 minutes as the backup guard. Seven-year veteran Shake Milton only saw action in the final six minutes.
Lakers coach JJ Redick mixed it up against the NBA-worst team, Washington Wizards, with Milton getting the backup guard minutes over Bronny. But it’s hardly a gauge since they blew the Wizards out of the gates on their way to a 134-96 rout.
Milton scored a season-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the floor with four rebounds, four assists and two steals in 28 minutes. Bronny scored a career-high five points with two rebounds, two assists and one steal as the Lakers emptied their bench in the entire fourth quarter.
Bogdanovic could give the Lakers a solid veteran guard off the bench.
