The pros and cons of a Bojan Bogdanovic trade for the Milwaukee Bucks
By Dalton Sell
The cons of the Milwaukee Bucks pursuing a Bojan Bogdanovic trade
The idea of adding Bojan Bogdanovic to the Milwaukee Bucks’ offense has to be enticing, but there are some concerns about how he would hold up on the other end.
Milwaukee is a team that has relied heavily on their defensive efforts over the years, and bringing in Bogdanovic would not exactly strengthen their efforts on that end. The forward has never been a strong defender, which is another thing this team needs. He could be targeted on that side of the ball, which would bring back troublesome memories of last postseason, where the Bucks’ wings were consistently hunted due to their lack of reputable defense against opposing scorers.
Age would also be a factor here. Per NBA.com, the Bucks entered the 2022-23 season with the league’s oldest roster. It has been clear for a while that this team needs to add some youth to its core, and a 33-year-old Bogdanovic, who will soon be 34, does not exactly help in that regard for the Bucks. A player being over 30 might not be the end-all-be-all for the Bucks if that player can be a potential difference-maker, but it is something they may keep in mind as they aim to bring in some reinforcements ahead of the deadline.
Lastly, there is also Bogdanovic’s massive salary and what it would potentially take to acquire him. The veteran is making $19.3 million this season, which would be tricky to acquire for the Bucks at this point, given their financial inflexibility. Per Yahoo! Sports’ Jake Fischer, the Detroit Pistons are seeking a first rounder and or a young player or additional draft capital. The Bucks do have a first rounder in 2029, and while they would possibly be wise to move it for a player who can help them win now, some may be hesitant to do it for Bogdanovic because of the reasons above.