‘Prepared for anything’: Kings’ Bogdanovic braced for change at NBA trade deadline
Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic has heard the rumors, too.
Bogdanovic knows his name is being bandied about in trade talks. He knows other teams are interested in his services as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline nears. Following a 113-109 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at Golden 1 Center, Bogdanovic said he would prefer to remain in Sacramento, but he knows the NBA is a business.
“You never know,” Bogdanovic said. “If something happens, it happens. You’ve got to be ready, prepared for anything. It can happen to everybody. Teams are looking to create the best team and that’s something players cannot control.”
The Kings are bracing for change as the clock ticks toward Thursday’s noon deadline. Much of the league is focused on D’Angelo Russell of the Golden State Warriors, Clint Capela of the Houston Rockets, Robert Covington of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Andre Iguodala of the Memphis Grizzlies, but there will likely be movement in Sacramento as well.
Kings center Dewayne Dedmon requested a trade more than a month ago and has not had a change of heart despite his recent return to the starting lineup. The 7-foot center lost the starting job four games into the season and later dropped out of coach Luke Walton’s rotation, but the Kings needed him in recent weeks due to injuries to Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley III.
Bogdanovic and forward Nemanja Bjelica have also been mentioned in trade rumors. ESPN’s Zach Lowe reported the Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets have expressed interest in Bogdanovic. The Lakers and Kings previously discussed a deal involving Bogdanovic and Kyle Kuzma, but a league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings were unlikely to make that trade. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported the Kings offered Bjelica and a draft pick in exchange for Kuzma, but the Lakers wanted Bogdanovic instead.
Bogdanovic has not accepted Sacramento’s four-year, $51.4 million veteran extension, the maximum offer allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. Bogdanovic will likely attract larger offers as a restricted free agent this summer. The Kings are confident they would be able to match any offer he receives, but they might be willing to make a move now if they get an intriguing trade proposal.
Walton discussed the uncertainty associated with the trade deadline and touched on his role in trade talks prior to Monday’s game.
“I’ve coached teams and played for teams where every day you’re reading if this guy is going to be traded or that guys’ going to be traded, and it can be a distraction,” Walton said. “I don’t think as a group we’re overly concerned with that right now, but I’m very open about, ‘Look, we control what we can control.’ And if something happens, it will (happen), but we’re not going to do anything different.
“This is our group. This is who we have and we’re going to continue to work on those things that need working on and keep playing the way we want to play. I know it’s easier said than done, especially for players, but as far as all the other stuff, I let the front office do what they do and I focus on what I need to do as the coach.”
There was a heavy emotional toll in the locker room last season when the Kings traded away Iman Shumpert and Justin Jackson at the deadline. Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox was one of the players who was most effected, but now he says he has a better understanding of the business side of basketball.
“I’m pretty used to it by now,” Fox said. “It is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s still a business and guys have jobs, and it’s to put teams together that can win. We let the front office do their job.”
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 3:11 PM.
