Five teams that could pursue Bogi in restricted free agency
James Ham details five potential suitors for Bogdan Bogdanovic's services if the Kings don't re-sign him.
There is no official word on when NBA free agency will begin or how much the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic will hit the salary cap. The early projections have the cap staying around the $109 million mark for another season, but almost everything is guesswork at this point.
When free agency begins, the Kings have roughly $83 million in dedicated salary already on the books, with a $7.2 million decision on Nemanja Bjelica and Jabari Parker’s player option at $6.5 million. They also have unrestricted free agents like Harry Giles, Alex Len and Kent Bazemore to chase.
Lastly, the Kings have a complex situation with starting shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic. He’s a restricted free agent that up until general manager Vlade Divac walked out the door, was set to return. Now everything is up in the air.
New GM Monte McNair can sit back and allow Bogdanovic to set his own price on the open market and then make his decision. He also can be proactive and start working the phones if he is going to move in a different direction.
It’s a weak free agent class. Bogdanovic will have suitors, but they are going to have to meet his criteria. That means he’ll want plenty of cash, a good opportunity to play and more than anything else, a chance to win. Here are five potential landing spots if the Kings decide to move on without Bogi.
Estimated cap space: $56.3 million guaranteed
The Hawks are an up and coming team with all kinds of potential. They also have a bunch of cap space and they are one of the few teams with enough cash to run up Bogdanovic’s price and make the Kings balk. Atlanta has plenty of options at the two, but no one with the skill set that Bogdanovic possesses.
He likely would slide into a starting lineup that includes Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins and Clint Capela. The Hawks also have plenty of assets if they want to work out a sign-and-trade and avoid the Kings matching an offer sheet.
Estimated cap space: $114 million guaranteed
After busting in the bubble, the Bucks need to add to their arsenal if they hope to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo happy and in Milwaukee beyond this season. The problem is they are out of cap space and don’t exactly have the contracts to match up salaries. It’s unlikely the Kings would consider a player like Eric Bledsoe, who is owed close to $55 million over the next three seasons, plays the same position as De’Aaron Fox and has a long history of injury.
Donte DiVincenzo would look great in a Kings uniform, but the Kings would have to take back additional pieces in any swap. While Milwaukee might be interested, it’s tough to see a trade working between these two teams.
Estimated cap space: $83.3 million guaranteed
Who says you can’t go home. Originally drafted by Phoenix with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, Bogdanovic would fit perfectly in the backcourt alongside Devin Booker. Neither is a true point guard, but the pair probably would work well together.
They both can handle the ball, shoot from long range and set up teammates. Phoenix has the cap space to run up Bogdanovic’s price. The Suns also have assets to work with, like the No. 10 pick, as well as a young player like Mikal Bridges if they want to swing a deal instead of overpaying in free agency.
Estimated cap space: $66.9 million guaranteed
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro are the core in Miami, but the Heat have the cap space to make a splash in free agency. They’ll need to save some cash for players like Goran Dragic and Jae Crowder, but they have enough room to chase a couple of solid veterans to fill out the squad.
They don’t have the assets to offer much to Sacramento, but Bogdanovic wants to win in the worst way. If the Kings let him walk away, this could be the door he steps through.
Estimated cap space: $76.1 million guaranteed
The Pelicans look like a squad ready to take a major leap and Bogdanovic would fit in nicely as either a starting shooting guard or a super-sub. A lot of their money is tied up in a cap hold for Brandon Ingram, but they have the ability to clear up space with some creative accounting.
Would the Kings let New Orleans steal away one of their key pieces? The Pelicans likely would have to pay with some of their future assets, like the No. 13 pick, as well as a stack of future first-round picks from the Lakers. New Orleans needs versatile shooters and Bogdanovic would certainly fit the bill.
