Anderson, Bogdanovic to compete for Nets' starting spot

All signs point towards Kevin Garnett returning for a 20th NBA season, and with Brook Lopez back in the fold, Garnett, Lopez, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are obvious choices to fill four of the Nets' five starting spots this season.

That means a starting opportunity has opened up in Brooklyn after Paul Pierce's departure for Washington. According to the New York Post, the candidates for the slot are Alan Anderson and Bojan Bogdanovic.

With Williams at the one, Garnett at the four, and Lopez at the five, either Anderson or Bogdanovic would join Johnson as a starter at the wing positions.

Anderson is a shot-happy swingman with decent but inconsistent three-point range who gives an honest defensive effort. The 31-year-old journeyman, who has spent time throughout Europe and the D-League, settled in Toronto with the Raptors during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons before moving on to Brooklyn last year.

Bogdanovic is a 6-foot-8 swingman who has spent his professional years in Turkey, Croatia, and Spain. The Croatian was selected 31st overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, but has yet to play a single game in the league.

In six seasons in the Euroleague, Bogdanovic has averaged 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting just under 36 percent from three-point range.

The 25-year-old was also a top-three scorer (21.2 PPG) at this summer's FIBA World Cup, where Croatia was edged by France in the Round of 16.

The Nets hope to get some shooting and defense out of the vacant starting spot, which both Anderson and Bogdanovic are capable of providing, but either one will be a clear downgrade from Pierce.