9. Bojan Bogdanovic, Indiana Pacers
As fun as it was watching Bojan Bogdanovic go toe-to-toe with LeBron James in a playoff game last year, it’s more than likely that out-of-body experience comes back down to earth in 2018-19. With Bogdanovic being 29, more depth behind him at the 3 and Myles Turner needing more touches, it’s unlikely Bogey matches the career-high 14.3 points per game he posted last year.
Bogdanovic is still incredibly valuable to this on-the-rise Indiana Pacers squad, especially after converting a career-high 40.2 percent of his 3s last year. However, they’ve already got his replacement waiting in the wings after signing Doug McDermott to a three-year deal over the summer, which is noteworthy since Bogey’s on an expiring deal.
If Bogdanovic’s reliable stroke falters, or if his defense doesn’t hold up like it somehow did in the playoffs last year, McDermott could be ready to seize the starting job as early as this year. Even if that doesn’t happen, it’s likely he falls a step down the Pacers’ totem pole with Turner, Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Tyreke Evans all needing touches.