LA Clippers: How Bogdan Fits W Kawhi Leonard and Paul George

More rumors are incoming that suggest the LA Clippers are looking to make a move to put another impact player next to Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Not long after hearing that the Clippers have asked around about Myles Turner and Lonzo Ball, we’re now being told that the Clips have sniffed around Atlanta for a potential trade.

While shooting guard might not be the most pressing need for the LA Clippers, the front office is never going to pass up a chance to add somebody that they think will make the team better, and these rumors make that clear. But the fact that Bogdan plays the same position as one of our stars, we really need to ask the question:

How does Bogdan Bogdanovic fit on the LA Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George?

In a piece for the Athletic, the LA Clippers were name dropped as a Bogdan suitor. After a drama-filled offseason which featured Bogdan initially looked to be going to the Milwaukee Bucks before ending up on the Atlanta Hawks, Bogdanovic hasn’t performed up to his expectations. In Atlanta, he’s averaging 9.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists, shooting just 38.7% from the field and 33% from deep.

If the LA Clippers wanted to team him up with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, they’ve got to be hoping that Bogdan could play more like Sacramento Bogdanovic on a contender. His last year with the Kings, he put up 15 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists on 44% shooting from the field and 37% shooting from deep.

If that Bogdanovic were on the LA Clippers, he’d slot in nicely with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Paul George has been a revelation as a playmaker this year, so you could get away with a George/Bogdan/Kawhi/Morris/Big lineup in short bursts.

In longer spurts, having Bogdanovic could allow bigger lineups that look like Point Guard / Bogdan / George / Kawhi / Big. Kawhi Leonard can certainly hold his own at the power forward spot, and Paul George’s size lets him play small forward easily.

You’ll notice that, in those lineups, I never named a point guard or a center, I just said “Point Guard” or “Big.” That’s because the money is tough in this deal, and it would have to involve at least one of Patrick Beverley and Ivica Zubac. Bogdan’s cap hit is $18 Million, and the Clippers would have to match that.

Obviously, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George aren’t going anywhere in the deal. Patrick Beverley’s $13.3 Million gets you most of the way to $18 Million, but not all the way. Bev and Lou works, but then the LA Clippers are probably giving up too much, and the Hawks likely don’t even take it.

I’m not surprised that the LA Clippers are interested in Bogdan Bogdanovic, but the problem is that the price to get him guts the team, and then you’re really working with Bogdan, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and some very fringe pieces.

Bogdanovic’s fit with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George works, but not terribly well. Kawhi can play at the power forward, but that’s not been the position he’s been put in very often this year. If the LA Clippers want to make a big deal, there are guys out there who fit the roster much better than Bogdan. This is a deal I would avoid, and the Clippers likely will too.