Indiana Pacers salary series: Bojan Bogdanovic

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 20: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers talks to the media after Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 20, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 20: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers talks to the media after Game Three of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 20, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
3 of 4
Bojan Bogdanovic Indiana Pacers
BROOKLYN, NY – DECEMBER 17: Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson #24 of the Brooklyn Nets on December 17, 2017, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

What contract comes next for Bojan Bogdanovic?

Since there are so many guys on the Indiana Pacers with expiring contracts I feel like I have typed this a million times, but Bojan’s next deal will be dictated largely on how he plays this season.

He will turn 30 this coming season, so he has a chance for one more contract that pays him sizeable money. If he performs well in 2018-19, then he will get the deal he deserves next summer, especially if he has another memorable playoff performance.

The Pacers have Bojan’s’ early Bird rights, meaning they could sign him to a deal starting at up to $19.95 million dollars next summer while exceeding the salary cap. There is no way that Bojan becomes worth that much, but if he remains a 10 million dollar player, perhaps signing other dudes and then re-signing Bojan while over the cap would be the right move for the Pacers were they so inclined.

If Bojan struggles, he could pull the mid-level exception from a variety of teams next summer. The wing position is becoming more and more valuable by the year, so Bojan struggling in the coming season shouldn’t lose him out on too much money unless he performs substantially under his expected value.