Still waiting for that first NBA blockbuster trade of the 2015-16 NBA season?
Well, keep waiting. It’ll come eventually, just not now.
In the meantime, get your rumor-mill fix with Sporting News’ Mitch Lawrence, who claims that the Charlotte Hornets are interested in dealing for Bojan Bogdanovic of the Brooklyn Nets:
GM Billy King is conceding privately what we all know: The Nets aren’t making the playoffs. So it’s time to start breaking up the team. So far, Charlotte has called to try to deal for Bojan Bogdanovic, the team’s top 3-point marksman, Sporting News has learned. If Joe Johnson doesn’t get moved at the deadline, he’s seen as a prime candidate for a buyout.
If the Nets are actually willing to buy out the rest of Bogdanovic’s contract, the Hornets, along with every other potential suitor, have no reason to rush into anything. They can just wait Brooklyn out and hope to claim him off waivers.
But Bogdanovic is only making $3.4 million this season and $3.6 million next season with a qualifying offer worth $4.5 million owed to him in 2017-18. So if Charlotte is actually interested, excessive posturing doesn’t make any sense—not when the stakes aren’t especially high.
Bogdanovic is getting a bunch of minutes in Brooklyn but doesn’t appear to be a favorite of head coach Lionel Hollins. His three-point stroke isn’t reliable, but he can chuck treys, and he has enough explosion to play above the rim and survive at the 3, though he’s most definitely more valuable at the 4.
Nicolas Batum hasn’t played since Jan. 1, so the Hornets could definitely use some added depth up front. With the way Charlotte’s coach, Steve Clifford, has been designing his offense, it’s not a stretch to envision him playing Bogdanovic at the 4 alongside Frank Kaminsky at the 5 once Batum returns. That combination could make for some lethal offensive firepower.
With fit not being an issue, this becomes a matter of price. Brian Roberts only just re-entered the rotation, and the Nets need a point guard after losing Jarrett Jack to injury, so that would be a good start to any negotiations.
