Milwaukee Bucks: Grades for Dragan Bender’s two-year, veteran minimum deal
By Adam McGee
The Milwaukee Bucks likely wrapped up their roster moves for the offseason by signing Dragan Bender, but how does his two-year deal grade?
With a slew of veteran signings added to an already in-their-prime core of players, the Milwaukee Bucks’ roster for 2019-20 looked set to be unusually lacking in young, developing prospects.
Having traded away their draft picks for June’s latest influx of young talent, the closest the Bucks had to development projects was third year pros Sterling Brown and D.J. Wilson, and Donte DiVincenzo, who at least has vast college experience and success to draw on in spite of heading into just his second year as a pro after injury disrupted his rookie season.
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With news on Thursday of an agreement to sign Dragan Bender on a two-year deal, the Bucks have a new prospect to focus their attentions on, though.
Still just 21 years old, Bender becomes comfortably the youngest of any Bucks player across the regular roster and two-way spots, and brings with him an obvious sense of unfulfilled potential following three difficult seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
Through annual coaching changes, goats in the front office and general dysfunction in Phoenix, Bender has so far failed to live up to his billing as the fourth overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft, but will be eager to make the most of his new opportunity to do so with the Bucks.
The Bucks may not have an obvious need for him just yet, but what will they hope to see from Bender during his time with the team?
Let’s take a closer look Bender’s value, role and fit in an attempt to find out, before offering up a final grade for the deal.