Lakers Trying To Land New $73 Million Starter Amid Career Year

The Los Angeles Lakers are looking for potential ways to improve their roster and they really want to land one particular starter. Shams Charania from The Athletic reported that Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office look for someone who can improve their shooting. Calling the Detroit Pistons and asking for one of their shooters seems like a good idea, right? Pelinka will have to send a future first-round pick and a few players to Detroit.

“The Lakers are prioritizing shooting in their conversations with teams, and have discussed packages including salaries and a protected first-round pick for Detroit’s Bojan Bogdanovic, league sources, who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely, tell The Athletic,” Charania wrote on December 12, 2022.

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC went crazy in the 3rd quarter for the #Pistons last night vs LAL ???

– 25 points – 2nd most all time
– 4 straight 3-pointers in 1:34 of game time ???
– 7 3-point possessions (2x 3-3 FTs) ???
– 7-9 from the field and 2 assists pic.twitter.com/wwg7XeXpsw

— Motor City Hoops (@MotorCityHoops) December 12, 2022

The Lakers wanted to land the starter in the offseason

Here’s a fun fact. Why would the Pistons part ways with Bogdanovic? They signed him a few months ago. Charania reported that the Pistons may not consider sending Bogdanovic away. He could be an ideal fit for the Lakers. The Pistons veteran averages 21 points and 2.4 assists per game while going 43.7% from long range.

“Bogdanovic, 33, is in the midst of a tremendous season for the Pistons, averaging 21 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 50.8 percent from the field and 43.7 percent from 3-point range — including a 38-point outing in a loss to the Lakers on Sunday night,” Charania detailed. “While Bogdanovic is a target for the Lakers — they are among roughly a dozen teams to inquire about him, offering first- or second-rounders — Detroit is showing no urgency about moving him. In fact, the Pistons have expressed to rival teams a significant reluctance about moving Bogdanovic, sources said.

“As The Athletic’s James Edwards III wrote, Bogdanovic has become a leader for this young Pistons group, a productive catalyst on and off the floor, showing exactly why general manager Troy Weaver does not want to move him.”

The Lakers tried to get many players. Russell Westbrook may be the first to leave the franchise. Pelinka is trying to reshape the team and he needs players who can help the Lakers win a title.