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As turmoil increases in Fenerbahce, Bojan Bogdanovic continues to excel

By Net Income
Ilkan Karaman via Facebook

Fenerbahce, home to the Nets' Euro-Stash Bojan Bogdanovic and Ilkan Karaman, was in turmoil this week. On Sunday, the team's coach, Simone Pianigiani resigned under pressure after his high-priced roster was blown out by F.C. Barcelona in the Euroleague. On Monday, rumors spread in Istanbul that the Thunder would travel to the Turkish city next October to play Fener in an exhibition game.

Neither are likely to affect Bogdanovic's buyout that much, says Servas Birdal of Euro-Step, who interviewed Bogdanovic for NetsDaily.

"I don't think coaching change or the prospect of OKC playing in Istanbul is going to have an effect of any sorts on Bogdanovic's current situation with the Nets," wrote Birdal in an email. "It should be all about the buyout fee this summer. Fener could have a discount from the 1.5 million euro price tag if Bogdanovic makes it clear that he wants to leave. If they decide to keep him, they will risk losing him for free in the summer of 2014 after all."

Fener's interim coach, Ertuğrul Erdoğan seems ready to feature Bogdanovic even more in the team's offense as the 6'8" Croatian is increasingly in the conversation for Europe's best young player. The general feeling in the Nets front office is that Bogdanovic is a "lottery equivalent," that is he'd be a lottery pick in this year's (weak) draft ... if he didn't have a $2 million buyout out. But he does.

Despite the turmoil in Turkey, Bogdanovic continues to excel. In a low scoring game Monday, Fener won a crucial Turkish League contest, 78-70, over Deron Wiliams old team, Besiktas. Bogdanovic led both teams with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, 1-of-4 from the arc. For the year, in the Turkish League, he's shooting 60/40/80, meaning he's shooting 60 percent from two point range, 40 percent from three and 80 percent from the line. Karaman, the 6'10" Turk drafted last year, continues to back up veteran European big man David Andersen. Karaman had six points and three rebounds in 11 minutes Monday.

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