Bojan Bogdanovic Height: 6-8
Weight: 216 lbs.
Age: 28
NBA Experience: 3 years
Nicknames: Bogie, Bo
By the Numbers (with Wizards):
Games Played: 26
Games Started: 0
Total Minutes: 601 (14.4 MPG)
Points: 330 (12.7 PPG)
Assists: 21 (0.8 APG)
Rebounds: 80 (3.1 RPG)
Steals: 10 (0.4 SPG)
Blocks: 2 (0.2 BPG)
Field goals: 107-234 (.457)
Free throws: 71-76 (.934)
3-pointers: 45-115 (.212)
Turnovers: 38
Net Rating: 0 (113-113)
PER: 14.7
Fans' view of Bogdanovic during his time with the Wizards can best be analogized as a roller coaster. First, everyone hated the trade because the #FireErnie crowd hated the “waste” of another first round pick, especially in a highly touted draft this summer. Then, Bogdanovic started his Wizards tenure as a flamethrower making 23 of his first 40 (57.5 percent) three-pointer shots. He ended the regular season a frigid 22 of 75 (29.3 percent) from deep and plateaued in the playoffs at 16 of 45 (35.6 percent).
Season Takeaways
The Bogdanovic trade should not be season as a failure or mistake because hindsight is 20/20 and had he continued to shoot 40+ percent from three the entire second half of the season, and Washington went farther in the playoffs, everyone would think differently and care less about the first round pick. Moreover, the limited wiggle room the Wizards have with money to play with this offseason and stay under the luxury tax is only possible because the Bogdanovic trade also shed the terrible four year, $26 million contract given to Andrew Nicholson. He is now a Brooklyn's problem.
That said, Bogdanovic only returns if Otto Porter Jr. is not re-signed or if Ted Leonsis is finally willing to go over the luxury tax and go all in on the House of Guards era. The latter seems unlikely to me unless John Wall demands it. I would wager a bet that Porter’s non-return only happens if he demands the max contract and Washington can get Bogdanovic for below his market value, which I estimate at roughly four-years, $50 million. If Bogdanovic could be had for cheap, I think he could thrive playing consistent minutes with Wall as a starter.
I like to think of Bogdanovic as the anti-Kelly Oubre Jr. A skilled offensive player, not just a shooter as he has shown a decent driving ability and finishing around the rim, that is a below average defender and soft spoken. The part of being a poor defender is something I bet Scott Brooks is not too thrilled about, which will be a part of the team’s evaluation when dealing with the restricted free agent.
What's next?
I would predict Bogdanovic going to the highest bidder this offseason, which will not be the Wizards. “Trying to find the right team that I can play the heavy minutes [for],” Bogdanovic said during his exit interview to the media. “I hope that I will stay here maybe, but we will see. It’s a long summer in front of us.” Should Leonsis be inclined and willing to go over the luxury tax, I would suggest spending that money on a backup guard like Jrue Holiday, Shaun Livingston, or Darren Collison instead of Bogdanovic.
The best of Bogie off the court.
The best of Bogie on the court.