The Pistons are adding another veteran to their core of young pieces.
Detroit has agreed to trade big man Kelly Olynyk and guard Saben Lee to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday.
Shams Charania of Stadium was first to report the deal.
By trading two players to the Jazz, the Pistons open an additional roster spot and acquire the flexibility to sign or acquire another player in the future.
Bogdanovic, 33, is a 6-foot-7 forward who is scheduled to make $19.6 million this season. Olynyk, 31, had two more years on his deal, worth $12.8 million this season and $12.2 in 2023-24.
Bogdanovic, a 6-foot-8 wing, was the Jazz’s second-highest scorer at 18 points per game last season behind Donovan Mitchell, who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. A capable shooter, Bogdanovic also 38% from beyond the 3-point line.
The 6-11 Olynyk averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds in 40 games for Detroit last season. Lee, who’s entering his third season in the league, totaled 5.6 points and 3.3 assists during his two season with the Pistons.
Bogdanovic’s consistency as a scoring threat will now be added to a core group that includes Cade Cunningham, who was recently named by ESPN as the 35th best player in the league, Jaden Ivey, Saddiq Bey, Marvin Bagley and Isaiah Stewart. The Pistons could start him for more offensive firepower, or they could bring him off the bench to serve as as main scoring option.
The Pistons also used $5.6 million in cap space to facilitate this deal, bringing the total outgoing salary amount to $20.27 million to match Bogdanovic’s expiring $19.6 contract.
This story will be updated.
mcurtis@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @MikeACurtis2