Brooklyn Nets: Should Bogdanovic be traded?

Despite winning just 3 of their first 16 games, the Brooklyn Nets have won their last two, and they currently sit with a 5-13 record. They are also in one of the weakest divisions in the NBA, with just Toronto and Boston over .500 and the Sixers at 1-19. The Nets have all the pieces to succeed, but so far this season, they have struggled to make all the wheels turn at once.

One of the main issues with the team in the past few weeks has been Bojan Bogdanovic. Ever since he had two terrific performances in a row against the Rockets and the Kings, he has struggled to find his shot. He has lost all of his confidence, and Coach Lionel Hollins has opted to use Wayne Ellington ahead of him this week. However, he has the potential to be a terrific scorer off the bench. So, the question is: should the Nets consider trading him?

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In the last week or so, a lot of news sources have heard rumors of Bogdanovic being possibly traded, but the Nets’ front office has quashed these rumors. This is reminiscent of the Brook Lopez situation last season, in which the media would not stop discussing the possibility of Lopez being traded, and they continued with the discussion right up until the trade deadline. Not only did the Nets not trade Lopez, but they managed to sign him for another 3 years.

Nov 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao (17) fights for a rebound with Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) during the third quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

So, what would the Nets be able to receive in exchange for Bogdanovic. Looking at the Nets roster, they could definitely use more big bodies inside. Right now, all they have is Thomas Robinson and Andrea Bargnani, and if one of those guys goes down, they will be very weak in the frontcourt. They could easily get a solid backup in exchange for Bogdanovic. One possibility could be a trade with the Cavs, who currently have Anderson Varejao riding the bench due to the crowdedness of their frontcourt. Trading Bogdanovic for Varejao will probably not happen, but it wouldn’t be out of the question. Bogdanovic has the ability to play small forward, and he would be a major upgrade over James Jones for the Cavs.

Another option could be trading Bogdanovic to the Hornets, who should definitely look for an upgrade over P.J. Hairston. They are a borderline playoff team with a crowded frontcourt (just like the Cavs), and a spot up shooter/post player on the wing would go a long way in helping them reach the playoffs. The Nets could easily get a guy like Marvin Williams or Spencer Hawes in this deal, both of whom would be very useful off the bench.

Then, there is the question of if they should trade him at all. After starting slow, they have busted out two wins in a row, and they have a fairly weak schedule coming up on their current homestand. They have a golden opportunity to break out a couple nice win streaks, and at this point, it might not be smart to sell low on Bogdanovic. He has the ability to be a monster off the bench, and the Nets should think carefully before trading away that potential. If his struggles continue, this discussion should start to materialize into something, but for right now, the Nets should continue to try to get Bogdanovic back in his rhythm.