Bye-Bye Bogi; Hawks offer 4-year/$72 million deal

Sacramento Kings restricted free-agent Bogdan Bogdanovic has signed a four-year/$72 million offer sheet from the Atlanta Hawks. The deal also includes a 15% trade bonus.

Atlanta’s hope is that Kings GM Monte McNair will not want to match the high-priced offer and be forced to let Bogi walk for nothing. Not an ideal scenario for Sacramento and a poor first impression of McNair’s new reign as the King’s front office if this is indeed how it all plays out.

Small market teams like Sacramento cannot afford to lose valuable assets for nothing in return. Portland, Oklahoma City, and Utah are clear examples of how small market franchises can become perennial powerhouses by flipping valuable assets for more good assets while never missing a beat. The Kings have struggled with the practice for decades.

The 28-year-old Serbian has been a solid contributor for the Kings over the past three seasons averaging 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. His ballhandling skills and high basketball IQ have made him an invaluable member of the squad.

Bogi is best suited for a more methodical style of play where he can have the necessary time to evaluate the defense and carve it up with drives to the hoop, deep threes, or passes to teammates requiring pinpoint accuracy. The run-and-gun style Sacramento is likely to adopt may not have been a perfect match for him, and that is likely why guard Buddy Hield is sticking around instead.

The Kings have 48-hours to match the offer once Bogdanovic signs it. We will all be waiting to see what kind of general manager Monte is. Was he outwitted, or does he still have a plan to salvage this situation and get the Kings on the right path again?