The Brooklyn Nets are about to get some help from overseas.
A league source told ESPNNewYork.com’s Ohm Youngmisuk on Monday that European sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic will sign a three-year contract with the Nets for the taxpayer’s mini mid-level exception. The deal includes a third-year player option, the source said, that could make it worth $10.3 million.
The signing cannot become official until the NBA’s moratorium is lifted on July 10.
The Nets had wanted to use their mini MLE on Shaun Livingston, but quickly turned their attention to Bogdanovic after Livingston signed a three-year, $16 million contract with the Golden State Warriors.
Bogdanovic, who has been playing for Fenerbahce Ulker in the Turkish League, is a 6-foot-8 forward who provides floor spacing due to his ability to shoot from the perimeter.
The Nets have retained Bogdanovic’s rights since acquiring him in a draft night deal in 2011. Bogdanovic was selected No. 31 overall in 2011. Brooklyn tried to bring him over last offseason, but was unable to complete a buyout with Fenerbahce.
Bogdanovic averaged 14.8 points per game in Europe last season, but shot just 29.8 percent from 3-point range. He did connect on better than 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc in his previous two seasons, however.
Bogdanovic was born in the same city -- Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- as Mirza Teletovic. Having Teletovic on the roster should help ease Bogdanovic’s transition to the NBA.
Asked about Bogdanovic earlier on Monday, Nets GM Billy King said: “There’s no answer to tell you. When there’s an announcement, we will. There’s nothing to announce right now, that is why it is the same place as the last time I talked to you guys last week. Because we can’t say anything about, can’t announce anything until we can announce things. Players can, but teams can’t.”
King did say new coach Lionel Hollins watched film of several players in their meeting last week, including Bogdanovic, leading to growing optimism that a deal eventually will be finalized and made official.