:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64305839/usa_today_11700593.0.jpg)
The Utah Jazz may be out their first choice in NBA Free Agency as Nikola Mirotic signed with FC Barcelona, but their front office came prepared. According to Tony Jones of the Athletic, the Utah Jazz have “significant” interest in the Indiana Small Forward.
The Utah Jazz are expressing significant interest in Indiana Pacers UFA Bojan Bogdanovic, League Sources tell The Athletic. Bogdanovic is thought to be a Pacers lean heading into free agency. Bogdanovic is one of the better forwards on the market
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) June 30, 2019
If the Utah Jazz were to land Bojan Bogdanovic they’d probably be looking at him playing Power Forward or moving Joe Ingles to the bench as a super sub. For the past two seasons Bogdanovic has played Small Forward, but prior to his time in Indiana, Bojan was seeing a lot of time at the Power Forward spot in Washington with the Wizards.
Last season, Bogdanovic stepped up his game once Victor Oladipo went down with his season ending injury. Bogdan averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on 57.5% eFG and 42.5% 3P%.
Many assume Bogdanovic is going to stay in Indiana, but he possibly could be swayed to join a pretty strong team in the West if the price is right. With Utah desperate for shooting, they would be willing to open up to $17MM a year for that type of skill set and figure out how to make it work. Utah could be going from a old fashioned two big lineup to four out spacing and Rudy Gobert in the span of one offseason if they land Bojan. That would be quite the change. Defense would be an issue, but Utah’s lucky enough to have the two time Defensive Player of the Year guarding the paint. That’s what he is paid the big bucks for.