On Sam Vicenie’s trade board, sixth-year guard Bogdan Bogdanovic is ranked ninth. Bogdanovic has caused the Lakers to struggle from Sacramento to Atlanta. Bogdanovic is scoring almost 17 points per game this season on 42% of his field goals and 36% of his three-pointers. In six games in December, he scored at least 20 points, including a game-ending 40-point performance against the Nuggets. It was quite the offensive clinic.
Bogdanovic is 6-foot-6 and has the build to kill it. In terms of attempts (9.2) and three-point makes per game (3.4), he leads Atlanta. Furthermore, he leads the team in three-point percentage. With 7.8 points per game from catch-and-shoot jumpers, the veteran is only third in the league behind Klay Thompson (9.0) and Lauri Markkanen (9.3). The Lakers can benefit greatly from Bogdanovic’s ability to pick up steam quickly and perform well off the bench, particularly when it comes to shooting off the catch. Considering his $18.7 million salary and LA’s emphasis on his teammate, Dejounte Murray, acquiring him might not be an easy task. However, it is indisputable that getting him and Murray in a significant move is a possibility.
At 31, Brogdon is proving that he can still contribute to a young Blazers squad. He’s fifth on the team in scoring and fourth in threes made per game (2.1). Brogdon, who is on a two-year, $45 million extension, may not be the big name Lakers fans are hoping for. However, he is still a viable option to help the team’s rotation.
Finally, the Lakers could circle back and attempt to land Raptors guard/wing Gary Trent Jr. In 35 games, he’s averaged 11.3 points per game on 41% shooting from the field and 40% from the perimeter. He is two years removed from the best scoring output of his career—18.3 points per game on .414/.383/.853 splits—but has remained effective in his bench role. GTJ scored 22 points in 34 minutes off the bench against the Hornets. He also put up a season-high 24 points (8/16 FG, 6/9 3PT) against the Pistons on Dec. 30—one of five starts he’s made this season.
