Raptors: Insider mentions “rumblings” of Bojan Bogdanovic trade

The Toronto Raptors have been mentioned as potential dark horse landing spots for big names like Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell over the last few days, showing that Masai Ujiri is committed to improving this team. If they strike out on those big swings, asking the Utah Jazz for Bojan Bogdanovic might make sense.

Even though Utah is moving towards a larger rebuild and the Raptors are trying to position themselves as a contender, moving Mitchell would still be a tremendous undertaking. Still an effective scorer at age 33, Bogdanovic could make sense for Toronto as a short-term sparkplug.

Appearing on “The Lowe Post” this week, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon mentioned that Bogdanovic might be a more likely trade target for Toronto than Mitchell. While he stressed nothing is imminent, it does sound like Utah will part ways with Bogdanovic if someone can hit Danny Ainge’s asking price.

“I’ve heard rumblings there,” MacMahon said. “The Raptors can certainly use a 6-8 shooter like Bogdanovic. For the Jazz in a rebuild, they’re obviously trying to move him.” If he is indeed on the move, Toronto needs to be near the front of the line for acquiring his services.

Will the Toronto Raptors get Bojan Bogdanovic?

After starting his career on some Mikhail Prokhorov-era Nets teams before a brief stint in Washington, Bogdanovic continued to put up numbers in small markets by playing with Indiana and Utah over the last handful of seasons. Since 2018, Bogdanovic has quietly averaged 17.4 points per game on 46/40/86 shooting splits.

Seeing time as both a traditional wing and small-ball power forward last year, Bogdanovic should be able to succeed at multiple positions with Toronto. Even if he isn’t a 20-per-game scorer, the combination of him and Otto Porter Jr. sniping from the bench will make Toronto’s depth feared across the league.

Bogdanovic is not a great defender, which could be a tough sell for a Toronto team that has made their defense such a considerable part of their identity. With one year left on his deal, Bogdanovic won’t cost an excessive amount. If the financials can work themselves out, Bojan might be an ideal offensive fit in Toronto.

The Raptors are an aggressive team, but giving up first-round draft picks for a 33-year-old player who won’t even start might be a bit of a tough sell. He may not be the perfect addition in all facets of the game, but Bogdanovic is a bucket-getter who could be the short-term punch this team needs.