Should Lakers Pursue Bojan Bogdanovic Trade amid Latest NBA Rumors?

The Utah Jazz have been in a trading frenzy this offseason, pivoting to rebuild mode. They sent Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves and dealt Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers. And they may not be done yet.

In fact, the Los Angeles Lakers may be trying to work out a trade with the Jazz.

According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha and Sam Amick, Los Angeles has had "recent conversations" with Utah in which it has targeted Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson and Malik Beasley. Those may not have been the first discussions the two teams have had this offseason, either.

Buha and Amick also reported that the Lakers had conversations about a four-team trade that would have included the Jazz, New York Knicks and Charlotte Hornets. In that rumored deal, Los Angeles would have gotten Bogdanovic from Utah and Terry Rozier from Charlotte.

So, it's clear the Lakers have interest in Bogdanovic and the Jazz may be willing to part with him. But Los Angeles potentially isn't the only team in pursuit of the 33-year-old forward, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

"It would not surprise me if the Suns get involved in the negotiations for Bojan Bogdanovic from the Utah Jazz, who is available on the market right now," he said during an appearance on ESPN's NBA Today. "Several teams are bidding for him."

Bogdanovic is entering his ninth year in the NBA. Over his first eight seasons, he's played for four teams, but he's spent the past three years with the Jazz.

During his time in Utah, he has been a key starter and was instrumental in helping to make the team one of the best in the Western Conference. Last season, he averaged 18.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 69 games while shooting 45.5 percent from the field.

The Lakers would benefit from adding a player like Bogdanovic, who has experience at both small forward and power forward. They need guys who complement their superstar trio (LeBron James/Anthony Davis/Russell Westbrook), although there's still a chance they end up trading Westbrook.

Would Los Angeles have to move Westbrook to bring in Bogdanovic? That remains unclear. And the Lakers may not want to pursue Bogdanovic too hard, as Westbrook could be in store for a bounce-back season.

If Los Angeles could somehow add Bogdanovic by parting with draft capital (and then make it work financially), he would be a great addition. But if the cost is Westbrook and too many first-round picks, then it likely shouldn't go for it.

But it would be surprising if Bogdanovic doesn't leave Utah either before or during the 2022-23 season. The Jazz are clearly committed to rebuilding and could get a decent return for him.

So if Bogdanovic doesn't end up in Los Angeles, expect him to head somewhere else and likely to a team that should be a playoff contender.