Some NBA teams are just a piece away from serious title contention. They’re good teams, but if they made the right move, they’d be elite. These are the teams to watch as the 2023-24 trade deadline approaches.
The Sacramento Kings are one of those teams. The Kings are good. They could win a playoff series. Still, they don’t feel like title contenders – yet. The Kings are a piece away.
Perhaps that’s why they’re linked to so many targets. The Kings could go get Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors. With that said, they’ll be entirely without assets following that deal. Could they make a smaller move for Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons?
The Trade Proposal
Detroit Pistons receive: G/F Kevin Huerter, F/C Trey Lyles, F Sasha Vezenkov, G Davion Mitchell, 2026 First-Round Pick (SAC)
Sacramento Kings receive: F Bojan Bogdanovic, G Monte Morris
Some NBA teams couldn’t be further from contention. They shouldn’t even be thinking about the league’s title picture. These teams need to be focused on the future.
The Pistons are certainly one of those teams. They’ve also been linked to Siakam. A lot of fans think that acquiring him would be a dire mistake. The Pistons could add Siakam – and in all likelihood, they’d still be on the cusp of play-in contention.
They’re more than a piece away. The Pistons have been bad for a while – they must be tempted to make a big move. Still, this front office may be better served by staying patient. Should they sell on Bogdanovic at the deadline?
Why The Detroit Pistons Do The Deal
The Pistons are the worst team in the NBA. Poor spacing has been the primary reason. This team has a lot of talent, but they’re woefully short on shooters.
In theory, Huerter is a shooter. In practice, he’s struggling from beyond the arc in 2023-24. Still, if he returns to form, he should help the Pistons. At 25, he’s young enough for the Pistons to covet.
So is Mitchell. Meanwhile, Lyles would at least offer the Pistons some spacing at the 5 position. Still, they do this deal for an unprotected first above all else. Should the Kings give up that pick?
Why The Sacramento Kings Do The Deal
Some Kings fans will question our logic here. The Kings are already a dynamic offensive team. By contrast, they struggle to prevent points. Shouldn’t they go for a defensive stopper?
Sure. With that said, the Kings shouldn’t look to spend big on a defensive specialist. Ideally, they’d land a two-way player – but they tend to be costly. If Sacramento wants to spend less and bring in a one-way player, they might as well lean into their offensive identity.
Bogdanovic is a perfect fit. He’ll space the floor for De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but he can also serve as a shot creator when need be. Meanwhile, Morris will be an upgrade in their rotation over Mitchell as well. If the Kings are a piece away, this deal should be perfect for them – they’re getting two pieces in it.
