Trade deadline preview: What value does Bogdan Bogdanovic hold around the league?

Shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has been a rare bright spot in a disappointing season for the Sacramento Kings. When healthy, Bogdanovic has provided efficient shooting and some much needed ball movement to an often stagnant offense.

For a team that may soon need to start shifting its focus to future seasons, the Serbian spark plug should be an obvious inclusion for next year’s plans. But there’s a catch.

Bogdanovic will become a restricted free agent this summer. That means that while the Kings have the rights to keep him, they will not be able to control his price tag. With the team’s salary in danger of approaching the luxury tax line, Sacramento could be put in a tough situation.

One thing is for sure, however. The struggling Kings cannot afford is to lose a good player and get nothing in return.

So while the Kings have said they are prepared to ride it out and pay whatever the market decides Bogdanovic is worth, they still may ultimately decide to take their financial future into their own hands by looking for a trade.

If Sacramento decides to go down that route, many teams would be interested in Bogdanovic. Here are the five destinations that make the most sense on paper.

1. Milwaukee Bucks

Sacramento gets: Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson, Ersan Ilyasova, 2020 1st rounder (From Indiana)

Milwaukee gets: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Yogi Ferrell

The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the NBA, but it still feels like they are missing a piece. That piece, unfortunately for the Bucks, is Malcom Brogdon. Milwaukee traded Brogdon away last summer instead of paying him, and if they falter in the playoffs that choice could come back to haunt them. Brogdon has averaged over 17 points and seven assists per game for his new team this season.

This trade would be Milwaukee’s attempt to undo a mistake and bring in another guard who can facilitate and shoot it from deep. In exchange, the Bucks would give Sacramento their two most-recent first round selections and the upcoming first-rounder they received from the Indiana Pacers in the Brogdon trade. Ilyasova and Ferrell’s salaries would be used to make the deal work.

DiVincenzo and Wilson have both shown promise, but neither has broken out. Sacramento would be taking a risk here by giving up the best player in the deal, but if any of the prospects they add develop nicely, they could win the trade in the long run. More importantly, Sacramento would quickly assuage any financial concerns they may have about Bogdanovic by shifting to players on rookie scale deals.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves

Sacramento gets: Robert Covington

Minnesota gets: Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Timberwolves have struggled greatly with 3-point shooting and they lack a true offensive initiator. After cutting bait with Jeff Teague, Minnesota is now relying on journeyman Shabazz Napier and rookie Jarrett Culver to run their offense. Bogdanovic would solve a lot of their problems, and they could probably afford to trade a forward after using most of their recent draft picks on larger wing players.

On the other hand, the forward position is where the Kings need the most help. After swinging and missing on Trevor Ariza, it feels like the Kings have only Harrison Barnes and a bunch of question marks to fill the role of combo forward. Robert Covington would provide ideal size, decent shooting and excellent veteran defense.

Bogdanovic and Covington are fairly equal in terms of value, so this trade would be more about positional need than anything else. But as a bonus for the Kings, Covington’s salary is locked in below $13 million for each of the next two seasons. If Sacramento is indeed concerned about Bogdanovic’s market value spiking by this summer, this trade gets out in front of that possibility while still landing a quality player.

3. Indiana Pacers

Sacramento gets: Myles Turner

Indiana gets: Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nemanja Bjelica

One of the most interesting players to make their way into the rumor mill this season is Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner. After leading the league in blocks last year, Turner established himself as one of the best young defenders in the NBA. His offense also offered many desirable qualities, including a reliable 3-point shot.

However, Turner has backslid this season in many areas of his game. His teammate Domantas Sabonis appears ready to take his spot as Indiana’s primary big man and never look back. This leaves the Pacers with a very intriguing trade chip. At just 23 years old, Turner has plenty of time to turn things around and potentially become even better than ever.

Myles Turner would be a picture perfect fit with the Sacramento Kings. A rim protecting, 3-point shooting center is the ideal frontcourt pairing for Marvin Bagley. Putting them next to Harrison Barnes, Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox could give the Sacramento Kings a rock solid starting five. Bogdanovic’s fit with the Pacers is a little more questionable, but Indiana should have enough size among their ball handlers to settle into a three-guard look.

4. Los Angeles Lakers

Sacramento gets: Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook, 2023 second-round pick, 2024 second-round pick

Los Angeles gets: Bogdan Bogdanovic

A Kyle Kuzma-for-Bogdanovic swap made its way into the rumor mill earlier this month, but was shot down quickly by the Sacramento Kings. However, the initial reports suggested that the Lakers wanted Bogdanovic and then some for their young power forward. If Los Angeles were to change its offer to Kuzma plus assets for Bogdanovic, they may have a better chance to strike a deal.

Kings fans would be distraught to see one of their favorite players suit up in a Lakers jersey, but this trade would have undeniable advantages. In terms of financial concerns, this deal would be a home run. Kuzma is on a modest rookie scale deal and Quinn Cook is on an even smaller salary, which is only partially guaranteed for next season.

Kuzma is also three years younger than Bogdanovic, and therefore more aligned with the career timelines of De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley. Kuzma’s position could also allow the Kings to play their core together more often. The Kings have struggled to solve the shooting guard puzzle with Hield and Bogdanovic. If this swap were made, Sacramento’s five best players could all have starting spots, potentially cooling any tension in the locker room.

5. Philadelphia 76ers

Sacramento gets: Matisse Thybulle, Zhaire Smith

Memphis gets: Bogdan Bogdanovic

The Philadephia 76ers entered the season as a favorite to make the Eastern Conference Finals and appeared to have the defensive fortitude to be a real threat to reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Milwaukee Bucks. Unfortunately, it seems their focus on defense has left their scoring lackluster, especially when it comes to long-range shooting.

Bogdanovic would be a fantastic on-court match for the 76ers. While financial issues would present themselves down the road for Philadelphia, this trade would put them in position to vault right back to contender status and give them a chance to return to the Finals for the first time since Allen Iverson’s heyday.

The cost would come in the form of two young wings with serious upside. Matisse Thybulle and Zhaire Smith would be ideal fits in a Kings system that lacks defensive minded wing players. It’s admittedly hard to see Philadelphia giving up both Smith and Thybulle, but if they’re serious about winning now, the 76ers’ short-term ambition could help Sacramento’s future.