It is no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have been in the hunt for reinforcements ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline on Feb. 9.
The Bucks have been linked to a handful of compelling names, but it seems like they are keeping a close eye on a forward from a Central Division rival. Action Network’s Matt Moore has reported the Bucks could emerge as a possible suitor for Bojan Bogdanovic, who has been involved in his share of trade rumors since landing with the Detroit Pistons this past offseason. This is not the first time the Bucks have been linked to Bogdanovic lately, as ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Subscription required) said back in the offseason that the Bucks had conversations about acquiring him before he was traded to Detroit.
Milwaukee’s front office clearly likes what the sharpshooter could bring to the table, and it will be interesting to see if they can pull off a deal for him. There are some complications when it comes to exploring ways to add Bogdanovic, but that will not stop the Bucks from trying. With that said, here are the pros and cons of the Bucks pursuing a Bogdanovic trade before Feb. 9.
The pros of the Milwaukee Bucks pursuing a Bojan Bogdanovic trade
While the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves with one of the best records in the NBA this season, they have still suffered from their lack of reliable offense. Per NBA.com/stats, the Bucks currently rank 19th in points per game and 26th in offensive rating in 2022-23, which is abysmal. A huge part of that could be attributed to Khris Middleton’s lengthy absence, but with his return unclear, this team needs help offensively. Bojan Bogdanovic would immediately help in that regard.
The 33-year-old is currently averaging career-best in points (21.1) and assists (2.7), as he has had an impressive season with the Detroit Pistons thus far. Plugging Bogdanovic into their lineup could immediately give the Bucks the spark they are longing for offensively. With Middleton out, adding an elite scorer like Bogdanovic to take pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday is just what this team needs. When Middleton returns, the Bucks could have four lethal scorers all in the lineup simultaneously.
Looking closer into how Bogdanovic could help this team offensively, his 3-point shooting would be a godsend. Bogdanovic is shooting 42.2 percent from deep, which is the second-highest mark in his entire career. The Bucks have not shot the long ball well at all this season, and adding one of the better 3-point shooters in the business could certainly help in that regard. The forward would get no shortage of open looks playing with Milwaukee’s Big 3, and his 3-point shooting could be a game-changer for the Bucks.
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.
The verdict on the Milwaukee Bucks pursuing a Bojan Bogdanovic trade
The Milwaukee Bucks can want Bojan Bogdanovic all they want, but unless General Manager and former Executive of the Year Jon Horst can work some magic, it seems hard to envision a deal. Yet, if Horst can indeed pull a rabbit out of his hat, adding Bogdanovic is absolutely something he must at least consider heavily before the deadline.
Though this team clearly needs help defensively, their issues on offense may be a bigger deal that needs addressing. With no timeline on Khris Middleton’s return, the Bucks may need to consider a move to bring in some help on that end. Adding Bogdanovic would fit the billing to perfection, and he could very well be the spark this team has needed for quite some time now. If the Bucks have to sacrifice a little defensively to improve greatly offensively, that is certainly worth considering.
If Middleton needs more time before his return to action, that could intensify the team’s pursuit. The Bucks did something similar last season by trading for Serge Ibaka when Brook Lopez was out after a back procedure, and they could take that same approach once more.
Getting Bogdanovic would be far easier said than done. Between his hefty salary and Detroit’s big asking price, Milwaukee will be in a rough spot in trade talks. Talks would have to start with the Bucks being willing to entertain moving their 2029 first rounder, but it is unclear if a pick that far down the line would intrigue the Pistons. There will be plenty of teams looking to trade for the veteran before the deadline, and it will be interesting to see which one, if any, is able to pry him away from Detroit. For the Bucks, Middleton’s health may be a significant factor in their thought process and how far they are willing to go in discussions, but that is just pure speculation for now.
Stay tuned to see if the Bucks could land a huge piece offensively in Bojan Bogdanovic via trade.