NBA Trade Deadline: What We’re Hearing About the Pistons, Part 2

Teams sitting in the sellers of the NBA standings are generally aggressive sellers when the trade deadline comes. I have seen it over and over again each year. But the Pistons may break that mold in 2023. At least they don’t seem to aspire to be big sellers.

Detroit, which currently has the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, has received a lot of calls for multiple players, according to league sources. Veterans Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks are his two names rival teams most actively inquire about, and Sadiq Bey and Narendz Noel are also gaining interest in his NBA career.

Here’s everything I’ve learned and gleaned related to those four names and the February 9 trading deadline.

Bojan Bogdanovic

Perhaps more than any player in the NBA, the 33-year-old forward was the hot topic of trade rumors last month. It’s easy to see why. Career bucket getter Bogdanovic is in the middle of his best offensive season. Bogdanovic is averaging a career-best 21.2 points while shooting 3 to 41.5 percent, and coming into Saturday Bogdanovic has scored at least 20 points in his last eight games, the most in a nine-year career. It has the longest record. At least the league’s teams aiming for the playoffs have taken a look at where Bogdanovic is at this moment in his career and assessed the Pistons’ priorities for pulling the Croatian forward away from Motor City.

Detroit has a desire to be more competitive next season, and while Bogdanovic will help make that happen, the Pistons aren’t against his move, league sources say. , they aren’t even trying to deal with him with concern because they appreciate not only his on-court play but the leadership he brings to their young team. The price tag for getting the, at least, seems to be an unprotected first-round pick. As the trade deadline approaches, it seems likely that the Detroit front will be offered the picks his office is looking for. uncertain assets.

Alec Burks

Like Bogdanovic, another professional scorer, Burks, 31, is in the midst of his best offensive season since joining the NBA. He averaged 13.8 points off the bench and posted his career-best on-field goal percentage of 46% and 3-goal percentage of 44.4%. Burks’ 44.4% 3-3 shooting percentage ranks him fourth overall in the NBA. Combine his production with his $10.4 million team contract with his options lucrative next season, and it’s easy to see why teams frequently inquire about his availability.

Of course, every player has a price, but league sources say the Pistons have shown little interest in trading Burks before the deadline. My feeling is that the team will have to pay a lot for Burks’ services. Detroit wants to keep him for the summer and for next season, when the organization hopes to turn a corner with a rebuild.

Sadik Bey

The third-year forward has had a season of ups and downs and has been the subject of trade rumors in recent times. Interest from rival teams intensified when Bay was moved to the bench in November, league sources said. The team has monitored his availability ever since.

Still, the Pistons were under the impression they weren’t ready to move on from the 23-year-old Bay unless a deal was struck they couldn’t refuse. What would such an offer entail? We’re not sure, but Detroit doesn’t look like Bay is available for pennies, according to league sources.

Narlens Noel

Against the Timberwolves last week, the veteran center posted four blocks and three steals in the third quarter, reminding rival teams that the defensive chops that once made him one of the best rim protectors in the league are still here. .

The two sides agreed a deal would be best for both sides, but that doesn’t mean it will be clear before the Feb. 9 deadline. Noel, who has a $9.6 million team option, will not accept a buyout. Heading into the summer, the Pistons likely plan to either not take Noel’s option, or use it to accommodate trades if they do.

According to league sources, the teams that have had the most discussions with the Pistons about Noel so far are the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and the Dallas Mavericks.

(Photo of Bojan Bogdanovic by Rick Osentski/USA Today)