Bojan Bogdanovic
Despite being on Tier 2, Bojan Bogdanovic may very well be my favorite target on this list. I don’t think Utah Jazz fans or NBA fans as a whole realize just how valuable this guy is. He’s an absolutely selfless player, a quiet but strong leader and a lights-out shooter. In wake of the absence of Victor Oladipo, Bogdanovic has stepped up in a big way, shouldering a huge load for the Indiana Pacers as their leading scorer.
He’s putting up 17.8 points per game on nearly 50 percent shooting from the field and 42.8 percent shooting from deep. His basketball IQ is through the roof as he’s reputed as constantly making the right plays and his offensive game is far more well-rounded than just spotting up for threes. Bogey is relentless at attacking the rim, cutting expertly and creating looks for himself as needed.
He’s got a little bit of everything that the Jazz could want on offense, including the ability to play some at the four if needed. Putting his deadly shooting stroke alongside the likes of Joe Ingles and Kyle Korver would make Utah one of the most intimidating three-point shooting threats in the league.
Not only that, but Bogdanovic is also an underrated defender. During his first year as a Pacer, head coach Nate McMillan challenged him on that end of the floor and he’s certainly answered the call. He’s turned into a serviceable individual defender, and especially with Rudy Gobert anchoring the defense, Bojan would be an exceptional team defender for the Jazz as well.
The hard part will be stealing him away from Indy. While the Pacers have a lot of decisions to make this summer with so many expiring contracts, in my mind they’d be crazy to not retain Bogey. Likewise, he seems to have found a fitting home there and it’s hard to imagine him leaving.
But if any disconnect emerges on either side, or if Indiana ends up making surprising moves that leave them without enough dough to keep Bogdanovic, the Jazz should make it a priority to be among the first to swoop in and nab him.