Bojan Bogdanovic

New York Rumors: Tyler, Aldrich, Bogdanovic

The latest news out of NYC..

  • Knicks coach Mike Woodson reminded reporters, including Adam Zagoria of SNY (on Twitter), that injured forward Jeremy Tyler isn’t guaranteed a roster spot just because he has a partial contract guarantee.  “Ain’t nothing guaranteed on our team,” the coach explained.
  • Tyler’s injury could be good news for former lottery pick Cole Aldrich, who is fighting for a roster spot, notes Marc Berman of the New York Post.  Aldrich, who was the final acquisition of Glen Grunwald before he was replaced as GM, has a fan in Woodson, though the coach noted that he is “awkward” offensively.
  • Bojan Bogdanovic denied media reports that he turned down a contract extension offer from Fenerbahce to join the Nets this season, according to TrendBasket (via Sportando).  “Fenerbahce did not offer me a new contract. It is not correct what the media reported about me refusing a new deal. Now I am focused on the current season. At the end of the year I will decide my future,” said the Croatian star.

Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Toronto, C’s, Bogdanovic

According to 76ers owner Josh Harris, a full-scale implosion of the roster was always the plan in Philadelphia, but it was delayed in part due to the club's success in 2011/12 (link via Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News).

"When I first bought the team, there were elements of the decision-making that I noticed weren't how I would have done it," Harris said. "But at the same time we did so well that first season ('11/12) that I chose to stick with the plan. The second season was a big disappointment and that made me feel empowered that it was the right time to make a bunch of changes. I've always had the same vision, but I took it a little more slowly given the success of the first season."

As the new-look Sixers prepare to get their training camp underway, let's take a look around the rest of the Atlantic Division….

  • In a press conference in Toronto, the NBA and the Raptors officially announced that the city will be hosting the 2016 All-Star Game. The Toronto Sun first reported the story last week.
  • There are no quick fixes on the way for the Celtics, but the importance of this developmental stage for the team shouldn't be undersold, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
  • Danny Ainge's phone remains "active," but the Celtics GM is looking forward to seeing which of the club's current players stand out, as he tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. "I wouldn’t say this is a perfect mesh of players, but I would like to see how they play together, and win jobs and opportunities, and just how players fit our system and Brad [Stevens]’ style of play," Ainge said. "I like the competitiveness in camp, and I also like the team because there are so many questions to be answered, so many unknowns."
  • NetsDaily passes along a report out of Turkey indicating that Bojan Bogdanovic has rejected a contract extension offer from Fenerbahce. If Bogdanovic doesn't ink a new deal, he'd be a free agent next summer, meaning there's a decent chance the Nets' 2011 second-rounder could come stateside.
  • Earlier today, we learned that the Knicks exercised Mike Woodson's 2014/15 contract option and that the Nets have signed Marko Jaric to a camp deal.

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International Notes: Turkoglu, Bogdanovic

Could James White be taking off for a trip to China?  Yesterday, we learned that the well-traveled 30-year-old could be headed back overseas as he mulls over all of his options.  The small forward has career averages of 2.7 PPG and 1.0 RPG, but his real hoops legacy comes in the form of highlight reel dunks.  Let’s take a trip around the globe for today’s international news..

  • Hedo Turkoglu wants to record 1,000 games played before his NBA career ends, and then he intends to play for either Fenerbahce Ulker or Anadolu Efes in his native Turkey, as he tells Ajansspor.com (translation via HoopsHype). Turkoglu is entering the final season of his contract with the Magic. He’s played 895 regular season games, which would mean he’ll need to play beyond 2013/14 if he wants to hit 1,000, unless he’s counting the 93 playoff games in which he’s taken part.
  • Bojan Bogdanovic tells Gol.hr that even though his deal with the Nets fell apart this summer, he still intends to play for Brooklyn at some point. His contract with Fenerbahce Ulker in Turkey is set to expire next summer (translation via NetsDaily).

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Nets Won’t Sign Bojan Bogdanovic

Multiple reports last Friday surfaced suggesting that the Nets had reached an agreement to bring 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic stateside, but it now appears that won't be happening. NetsDaily.com reported (via Twitter) that the team is "moving on without Bojan," while Howard Beck of the New York Times hears from a source that Bogdanovic is "not coming" (Twitter link).

As Beck notes, the Nets will retain Bogdanovic's rights and could attempt to bring him over again next summer. In the interim, GM Billy King indicated earlier today that Brooklyn has a Plan B. As he expressed some concern about bringing Bogdanovic over, King suggested there's another player who would be worth the mini MLE, though he didn't name the player (Twitter links via Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News).

Based on those early reports on Bogdanovic's agreement with the team and King's comments today, it appears the two sides had agreed to terms on a contract, but were unable to finalize a buyout with Bogdanovic's team overseas. Beck confirms (via Twitter) that the buyout was the sticking point.

Nets To Sign Bojan Bogdanovic?

SATURDAY, 1:51pm: Bogdanovic pegged his chances of joining the Nets at only 50% or slightly higher when speaking to a Croatian radio station today, as noted on the website Sportnet (translation via Nets Daily). Bogdanovic denied that a deal had been signed, though no deal can be officially signed until the July Moratorium is up on Wednesday, anyway.

FRIDAY, 8:23pm: Bogdanovic will get a three-year deal with a starting salary of about $2.4MM, tweets Howard Beck of The New York Times. That would leave close to $800K on the mini mid-level for the Nets to sign someone else. That wouldn't be enough room to bring on a player for as much as the two-year veteran's minimum salary, but as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News points out on Twitter, the Nets may prefer to let that money go unspent so they can save on their already-hefty luxury tax bill.

8:03pm: The Nets have reached agreement on a deal that will bring 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic to the team for the coming season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). The team acquired the draft rights to the Bosnia and Herzegovina native shortly after he was taken 31st overall by the Heat two years ago.

When it appeared the Nets would use their mini mid-level to sign Kyle Korver, it looked like Bogdanovic would not be coming stateside this season, since the rookie minimum salary would have been all Brooklyn would have had left to give him. With Korver heading back to the Hawks instead, that frees up as much as $3.183MM to give to Bogdanovic as a starting salary.

The 6'8" small forward maintained interest in playing for the Nets even as it appeared he wouldn't get the chance to do so right away. He averaged 14.3 points per game and shot 38.7% from three-point range this past season for Fenerbahce Ulker in Turkey. 

Odds & Ends: Kings, Lee, Martin, Cavs, Bulls

Tyreke Evans is being courted by the Pelicans and Andre Iguodala is reportedly drawing interest from several teams, but the Kings are expected to make a pitch to both players today. Bryan May of News10 in Sacramento reports (via Twitter) that Sacramento brass is scheduled to meet with Evans and Iguodala in Los Angeles today.

Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:

Kyle Korver To Nets ‘In The Bag’?

8:20am: An agreement between Korver and the Nets is "all but done," as Josh Newman of SNY.tv hears. Korver would sign via the taxpayer mid-level for three years and about $10MM. Nets Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Mirza Teletovic and Tyshawn Taylor are all represented by Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management, who's also Korver's agent. A deal with Korver would throw the team's pursuit of Bojan Bogdanovic into doubt, Newman writes, since that would leave only the minimum salary on the table for him.  

12:58am: Kyle Korver is one of the top sharpshooters on the open market, and figures to draw interest from a number of teams in need of three-point help. But it sounds as if the 32-year-old isn't necessarily targeting the most lucrative offer available. A rival general manager tells ESPN.com's Marc Stein (Twitter link) that he's hearing Korver to the Nets is "in the bag."

Since their team salary is well into the tax, the Nets will only have the $3.18MM taxpayer mid-level exception to offer outside free agents. Korver could likely earn more than that with other teams, but would be a solid fit on a veteran Brooklyn squad in need of an outside shooter. Korver reportedly became a target for the Nets after they shook hands with Boston on the blockbuster deal to bring Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn.

Deron Williams appears to be getting in on the recruiting effort, replying earlier tonight to a tweet from Korver's brother, Kaleb, seemingly encouraging Korver to sign with the Nets or implying that an agreement is already in place.

Eastern Notes: Prigioni, Nets, Bobcats, Redick

After spending 17 years playing professional basketball in Europe, Pablo Prigioni has enjoyed his first taste of the NBA this season with the Knicks. Prigioni will be a free agent at season's end, but George Bass, who represents Prigioni, tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that his client is interested in re-signing with the Knicks.

"Pablo really enjoyed himself here, and he has interest in playing again next year," Bass said. "He's fallen in love with New York, there's no doubt. The Knicks are just a first-class organization, so it's been good all the way around."

Here are a few more updates from around the Eastern Conference:

  • With Bojan Bogdanovic expected to sign with the Nets this summer, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post examines what ramifications such a move would have for Brooklyn.
  • There's no timetable for the Bobcats' coaching search, which figures to be lengthy and include plenty of candidates, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
  • Before he makes a decision in free agency in July, J.J. Redick plans to consult with Mike Krzyzewski, his former coach at Duke, as Andrew Gruman of FOX Sports Wisconsin writes.
  • A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com identifies a few possible offseason targets for the Celtics.
  • Over at Bulls.com, Sam Smith's latest mailbag focuses primarily on the current Bulls/Heat series, but also looks ahead to the summer. Asked about Nate Robinson's value on the open market, Smith predicts Robinson will be looking at an annual salary in the $3MM neighborhood.

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Van Gundy, Sixers, Celtics

Stan Van Gundy's name has been linked to the head coaching search in Milwaukee and the potential opening in Los Angeles, should the Clippers part ways with Vinny Del Negro, but it doesn't appear he'll be targeted by the Nets. ESPN.com's Chris Broussard reported earlier this week that Van Gundy wasn't on Brooklyn's list, and Chris Mannix of SI.com echoed that report on Mike Bianchi's Open Mike radio show in Orlando.

"I've spoken to sources who've told me … Stan Van Gundy is not a candidate," Mannix said. "It's possible that Jeff Van Gundy could get a call, but from what I understand Stan Van Gundy is not a top candidate for that job."

Here are a few more notes from around the Atlantic Division:

  • A source tells Josh Newman of SNY.tv that there's a 90-95% chance of 2011 second-rounder Bojan Bogdanovic joining the Nets for the 2013/14 season. Earlier in the week, GM Billy King indicated he was hoping to bring Bogdanovic stateside this year.
  • Sixers players won't be deciding on the team's next head coach, but if they did have a vote, it sounds as if it would go to current assistant Michael Curry. As John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes, both Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner endorsed Curry for the position.
  • Most of the interviews conducted by the Sixers as they search for a new coach will take place during or after next week's predraft camp in Chicago, according to Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com.
  • Will the long-rumored Celtics' rebuild finally get underway in earnest this summer? Stephen Brotherson of HoopsWorld makes a case for why the C's should let things ride with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for one more year.
  • In an Insider-only piece for ESPN.com, Broussard spoke to one of the NBA's top assistant coaches about the most desirable current or potential head coaching jobs this summer. The unnamed assistant ranked the Nets' job as the top option, with the Raptors and Sixers coming in at fifth and sixth, respectively.

Nets Rumors: Blatche, Shaw, Bogdanovic

It was an eventful weekend for the Nets, who fell to the Bulls in the first round's only Game Seven, then announced that interim coach P.J. Carlesimo wouldn't be retained as the team's permanent coach going forward. This year's offseason won't be as eventful as last year's for the Nets, but it still figures to be a crucial one. Here are a few updates out of Brooklyn as the club looks ahead to its coaching search and to free agency:

  • If it's up to free-agent-to-be Andray Blatche, he'll be a Net again next year, as he told reporters, including Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. "I can’t tell you 100% yet. But that’s the plan for me," Blatche said. "I like it here, I got my second chance here and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens."
  • Pacers president Donnie Walsh told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News that Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be permitted to speak to the Nets about their head coaching vacancy once Indiana's season is over. Based on Bondy's report, it's not entirely clear if the Nets have already asked to speak to Shaw or whether Walsh simply expects Brooklyn to reach out.
  • The Nets are hoping to add 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic to their roster for the 2013/14 season, according to GM Billy King (Twitter link via Bondy). Previous reports have indicated that Bogdanovic, who was drafted 31st overall two years ago, has an NBA out this summer on his contract in Europe.
  • Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post thinks current Celtics coach Doc Rivers would be an ideal fit in Brooklyn, and suggests that King ought to at least explore the possibility of prying Rivers away from the Nets' division rival.