The Nets came to an agreement last night with 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic, according to a league source.
Bogdanovic will sign a three-year deal with the Nets starting at about $2.5 million when the NBA’s moratorium on transactions ends Wednesday. The deal also contains a player option in the third year, the source said. The Nets used most of their taxpayer’s mid-level exception to sign Bogdanovic, the only way they could sign a player for more than the veteran’s minimum, due to the fact they are far over the luxury tax threshold.
By not using all of the mini mid-level exception — which starts at $3.18 million this year — the Nets saved themselves roughly $3 million on what will be a massive luxury tax bill thanks to their massive payroll following the blockbuster deal with the Celtics.
The Nets had strongly considered bringing over Bogdanovic as a free agent this summer, with Nets general manager Billy King referring to him publicly as a potential option on multiple occasions. But after they acquired Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry last week in the trade with Boston, the Nets tried to convince Kyle Korver to take a pay cut and join them for the full mini mid-level.
But after Korver opted to remain with the Hawks when he agreed to a four-year, $24 million deal Wednesday, they’ll hope Bogdanovic can step into the lineup as a reserve behind Pierce — once the trade with the Celtics is made official — and give new coach Jason Kidd yet another shooter to have at his disposal.
The 24-year-old Croatian averaged 15.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from behind the arc for Turkish power Fenerbahce Ulker in 21 games in Euroleague play this past season, and averaged 13.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from 3-point range in 27 games in Turkish League play for Fenerbahce.
Bogdanovic has played for Fenerbahce each of the past two seasons since the Nets grabbed him with the top pick of the second round — 31st overall — in 2011.
Including Bogdanovic, the Nets have 13 players either under contract, or will once the moratorium ends on Wednesday. Their last remaining business is to sign another point guard — Shaun Livingston is a possibility — to compete with Tyshawn Taylor for the backup spot behind Deron Williams.