Just when fans of the LA Clippers thought the primary backcourt scorers off the bench were Jordan Miller and Kobe Sanders, Bogdan Bogdanovic was announced as available for tonight's contest versus the Phoenix Suns. This will be his first game since December 26th, which was assumed to be his last before the deadline, and he will be able to show up to boost his value.
As @LaurenMRosen reported on the Clippers’ broadcast yesterday evening, Bogdan Bogdanović will be active and available for tomorrow’s game. It will be Bogdanović’s first game since Dec. 26. https://t.co/zIrdmk5c30
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) February 1, 2026
Head coach Tyronn Lue will have the toughest assignment on his hands: who is he supposed to remove, or reduce the playing time of, for Bogdanovic? As it will be for less than a week, Lue might limit Sanders’ role for the Serbian Star, given that Miller and Kris Dunn are necessities in the rotation.
Therefore, if Bogdanovic plays well, rival teams will have a recent sample size on the fact that he is a robust deadline candidate, and even if he underperforms, the same interested destinations will receive the notion that he is at least healthy.
It is a win-win situation that favors the Clippers’ deadline goal.
Bogdan Bogdanovic’s play within the next few days could help the Clippers land guard help
Since Bogdan Bogdanovic is not the guard the LA Clippers need in the second unit, why would the front office sit tight and allow him to collect dust on the bench? They should be hunting for a replacement, and with his status going from inactive for over a month to suddenly active days before the deadline, the front office could reap the greatest of benefits.
Furthermore, Bogdanovic’s contract is worth more than his actual play. Why? Because he is shooting 37.6% from the field this season, and he could easily be denied off the books of his next team, if traded, due to a team option.
This is an enticing characteristic he presents, and, along with his veteran status and valuable experience, all that a team monitoring his situation needs is that last kick to inquire about him and actually pull off a trade.
Bogdanovic on the floor tonight versus the Phoenix Suns, or in any of the Clippers' contests next week against the Philadelphia 76ers or Cleveland Cavaliers, could be the final, persuasive argument.
Thus, Bogdanovic coming out of nowhere and finally playing might seem like a nightmare in the moment for the situations of Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller, but it could actually help the front office within an extremely short period of time.