Examining 3 potential trade targets for the Cavs to pursue

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Bojan Bogdanovic, Detroit Pistons. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Potential target No. 1: Bojan Bogdanovic

According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavs are interested in both Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Dallas Mavericks, and Bojan Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons. Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports reported Cleveland is a Bogdanovic suitor first, also. Apparently for Detroit, they would want “either a young player with upside or additional draft capital,” from the team that acquires Bogdanovic. What do the Cavs have that Detroit might want? Well, their first-round picks are not really available, because of the Stepien Rule. Isaac Okoro might be intriguing to Detroit, so maybe he’d be included in a trade, if this were to happen.

To me, this fit works perfectly. Bojan is a solid small forward, who shoots well from distance. He isn’t the best defender in the world, but isn’t the worst, either. He shoots 41.6% from distance, which should be pleasing to Cleveland, if they were to acquire him. Also, Donovan Mitchell played with Bogdanovic for a few years in Utah, so that would be another reason for the Cavs to try to get him.

However, advanced stats and defensive rating show that Bogdanovic hurts the Pistons on the defensive end. But, their offensive rating soars 10 points higher when he is on the floor, versus when he is sitting on the bench. The Cavaliers could take the hit on defense if Bogdanovic were to come to the Cavs, as they do have the 2nd-best defensive rating this season, only behind the Memphis Grizzlies. The Cavs do have the 10th-best offensive rating as a team, which is okay, but definitely would improve if Bogdanovic was traded for.

Would I make this deal? If LeVert and Okoro were traded for Bogdanovic and a filler player, I’d hesitate a bit. Okoro still might be a good player in this league, so it would be hard to give him up. Also, the gap between Bogdanovic and LeVert isn’t that big, when it comes to skill level.

Maybe, but I would want Bogdanovic to be a better defender than he has been for Detroit, which isn’t impossible. Remember, Donovan Mitchell was considered a poor defender in Utah, and is now known as a solid perimeter defender in Cleveland. Anyway, keep an eye out to see if Bogdanovic is moved this season, as I do believe it has a strong chance of happening.