Cavs a Trade Suitor for Pistons’ Bojan Bogdanovic

When it comes to trying to fill in the voids, Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman is never done.

Clearly, the Cavs could use additional perimeter shooting, not to mention someone to step up and really claim the starting small forward spot.

Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic is that kind of player, and according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Cavs are indeed interested. That said, such a deal would not be easy.

“The Cavaliers are indeed a Bogdanovic suitor, sources said, but it will be rather difficult, and perhaps impossible, for Cleveland to reach Detroit’s lofty asking price for the veteran sharpshooter,” Fischer wrote.

As we noted on Hoops Wire and on the airwaves, a more attainable player on the Pistons would be Alec Burks, a shooting guard who is having a career season. Detroit is believed to be open to moving him and the Cavs may indeed have an interest.

As for Bogdanovic, it’s not entirely out of the question. The Cavs do have some pieces, though again, the Pistons want some youth and some picks. Cleveland is significantly short on the later following the trade for Donovan Mitchell over the summer.

Bogdanovic, 33, is a former Mitchell teammate in Utah and in his first season with Detroit. Through 40 games, Bogdanovic is averaging a career-high 21.1 points on 49 percent shooting, including 42 percent on 3-pointers. He would be the answer to the Cavs’ need for a clear-cut starter at small forward and desire for more perimeter shooting. He also has plenty of playoff experience alongside Mitchell with the Jazz.

As an aside, the Cavs are believed to be open to moving the expiring contract of guard/forward Caris LeVert — who they had hoped would take a stranglehold on a starting spot, but has had a fairly uneven season.

Bogdanovic received a contract extension from the Pistons, reportedly for two years and $39 million, in October. Detroit has been telling opposing teams they intend to hang onto him, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.