According to Newman, “a source with direct knowledge of the situation told SNY.tv on Thursday afternoon that there is a ’90-95 percent chance’ that the 6-foot-8 swingman makes his NBA debut in Brooklyn in 2013-14.”
The Nets acquired the 24-year-old Croatian in a draft-day trade with the Heat and Timberwolves in 2011. In order to obtain Bogdanovic, the Nets gave up this year’s second round pick (52nd overall) and cash.
After playing for Eurobasket clubs Read Madrid and Cibona Zagreb from 2006-2011, Bogdanovic signed a multi-year deal with Turkish club Fenerbahce in the summer of 2011 that runs through 2014. The agile forward showed off depth to his jumper in Turkey, shooting 41.1 percent and 40.5 percent from 3-point range in the last two Euroleague seasons.
In this year’s Eurobasket round of 16, Bogdanovic led all players in both scoring and index rating, the European version of PER. According to NetsDaily, Nets insiders say that Bogdanovic would be a top eight pick in this year’s draft on talent alone.
Considered by many as NBA-ready, Bogndanovic could break the rotation as Gerald Wallace’s backup at small forward in the 2013-14 season. According to Newman’s source, Nets GM Billy King is very high on the Eurostash swingman.
Billy loves him,” the source said. “I would call it a 90-95 percent chance he is with the Nets next season. This time last year, it was probably 50-50.”
Bogdanovic still has a year left on his Turkish contract, but has an out clause that would allow him to come to the NBA if Fenerbahce and the Nets can reach a buyout. The buyout is roughly $1 million, with NBA rules capping the Nets contribution towards the buyout at $525,000. The remainder of the buyout would be the player’s responsibility, though NBA teams often pay the import enough to cover the player’s liability.
Read More: Josh Newman – SNY – – Source: ’90-95 Percent Chance’ Bojan Bogdanovic Joins Nets Next Season
