Indiana Pacers president Kevin Pritchard will have a few tasks to take care of in this upcoming free agency period. Among them, Bojan Bogdanovic, their best perimeter shooter, who will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Pritchard noted Bogdanovic will have a lot of options as a free agent, something he likely gauged by the interest the rest of the league had in him by the trade deadline, according to J Michael of The Indianapolis Star Tribune.
The Pacers head executive noted he'll count with the support of the owner, hoping to use a high budget to contend.
“Herb (Simon) wants to win,” said Pritchard, according to Scott Agness of The Athletic. “We set a budget. It’s a very high budget, I’ll tell you that. Herb has never told me ’No' if it makes the team better. Not one time.”
“I want to think big.”
Bogdanovic was fully aware of being in a contract year, and posted career-highs across the board — with 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 0.9 steals. If his all-around game wasn't enough, Bogey also shot the ball the best he's ever had — a formidable 49.7% from the floor and a sharp 42.5% from deep.
In his short time with the Pacers, Bogdanovic has been an ironman, playing in 81 and 80 games the past two seasons, respectively.
The 30-year-old will enter the market as one of the most sought-after sharpshooters available in free agency, though only time will tell if Pritchard and company are prepared to dole out the money it will take to keep him in Indy.