The Pistons will be without their leading scorer from last season for at least the first month of this season.
Bojan Bogdanovic has a right calf strain and will be reevaluated in four weeks, the Pistons announced Tuesday, one day before their season opener against the Heat. The veteran forward averaged a career-high 21.6 points per game last season while shooting 41.1 percent from three. He also had a career-high 2.6 assists.
Bogdanovic's shooting ability is key to the Pistons' spacing on offense, so his absence looms large. Other perimeter scorers like veteran Alec Burks, who shot 41.4 percent from three last season, will have to step up in his stead.
Bogdanovic, 34, is entering the first season of a two-year, $39 million extension he signed with Detroit last October.
The Pistons will also be without backup point guard Monte Morris to start the season. Morris strained his right quad in a recent rehab session from a back injury and will be reevaluated in three weeks. Morris, a Flint native who was acquired via trade by Detroit this offseason, averaged 10.3 points and 5.3 assists in 62 games with the Wizards last season.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Livers, who's been sidelined with a sprained left ankle, is progressing toward a return to basketball activities and will be reevaluated in about four weeks. Livers has shot 37.8 percent from three over two injury-shortened seasons with the Pistons.