Milwaukee Bucks: 3 storylines to follow against the Atlanta Hawks in ECF

The Milwaukee Bucks will face former trade target Bogdan Bogdanovic

As fate would have it, the Bucks will see Bogdan Bogdanovic in the Eastern Conference Finals, who was heavily involved with last offseason.

Amidst the chaotic period when Giannis Antetokounmpo was pondering signing a supermax extension, the Bucks were chasing Bogdanovic, a restricted free agent of the Sacrament Kings. The guard was reportedly near the top of Antetokounmpo’s list of preferred targets for Milwaukee to chase, and the front office wasted no time in acquiring him as news flooded in shortly after they traded for Jrue Holiday that they would be bringing Bogdanovic aboard via sign-and-trade.

However, perhaps they should have wasted some time before making a deal with the Kings as their pursuit came before it was legally allowed to take place. After Bogdanovic was seemingly a Buck for a few days, the deal fell through, and the team was stripped of a draft pick for their early pursuit. Bogdanovic soon inked a four-year deal with the Hawks, and despite still getting Antetokounmpo to sign the supermax, it was a gut punch.

Now, they will have the chance to see him up close in the Conference Finals. However, that will largely depend on his health. The sharpshooter battled through knee soreness against the 76ers in the Semifinals and was certainly not himself in the latter matchups. Yet, perhaps a few days of extra rest will do him some good and get him back up to speed heading into this matchup.

Time will tell of Bogdanovic’s knee feels, but this should be a thrilling matchup regardless. Be sure to tune in and catch Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals at 7:30 p.m. CST on TNT this Wednesday.