It’s good news for international hoops fans into the NBA in a pair of stories via Spain-based Marca today.
Earlier this morning, the outlet reported that Mikhail Prokhorov and his Brooklyn Nets will buy out Bojan Bogdanovic’s contract with Fenerbahce Ulker for some $570,000. Bogdanovic was originally drafted by the Miami Heat at no. 31 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, and his rights subsequently bounced to Brooklyn through the Minnesota Timberwolves in a series of trades.
For Fenerbahce this season, Bogdanovic was good for 15.9 points in 28.25 minutes per game in Euroleague cumulatively – and 20.5 in just over 32½ in the Top 16 round. Back in Turkey, Bogdanovic averaged 13.0 in 25.3 minutes.
Any buyout of Bogdanovic’s contract would become official on July 1.
Meanwhile, Tiago Splitter of the now-Western Conference title-holding San Antonio Spurs has shot down Real Madrid’s possibly fantastical (and definitely longshot) hopes of signing the former ACB champion this offseason – in fact, Marca says he’s laughing about it.
Originally reported by Spain-based radio station Cadena SER yesterday, Splitter commented to the San Antonio Express News that the suggestion was purely political and that he hadn’t heard of any such offer.
According to Spurs Nation, “Splitter would seem to be in line for an NBA contract ranging from $6-10 million per season. (He’s currently making $3.9 million with a one-year qualifying offer of $4.9 million.)”
Splitter averaged 9.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.5 stocks (steals+blocks, per Bill Simmons) per game for the Spurs in 2012-13 – and, as of two months ago, won the respect of Stephen A. Smith. Which means something.
