With the new year approaching, most NBA teams have played at least one-third of their schedule and have a better sense of where things stand. The teams that aren’t currently competitive may look to become sellers in the trade market, while others may become buyers as a result.
Several names have come up in trade talks thus far, and while not every player who has been mentioned in trade rumors will actually be moved, some will. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the five players most likely to be traded in 2023.
NBA Trades: Bojan Bogdanovic
The Detroit Pistons acquired Bogdanovic from the Utah Jazz in the hopes that he’d provide them with an efficient high-scoring wing. While he’s lived up to expectations, the Pistons have not. They’ve been one of the worst teams in the NBA, and they seem like a lock to end up with a top draft pick. With Cade Cunningham out for the season and the Pistons having the worst record in the NBA, the decision to shop Bogdanovic makes sense.
He’s their best player at the moment, but he’s over the age of 30 and was brought in to help a young team win now. They clearly aren’t ready to win now, and by moving Bogdanovic, they can acquire future draft assets and ensure that they have the best chances of getting Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.
Selecting either in the 2023 NBA draft would allow the Pistons to add to an already impressive young core of Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Jalen Duren. Several teams are reportedly interested in trading for Bogdanovic, including the Lakers, according to Shams Charania (subscription required), and he seems likely to be moved before the trade deadline.