Why Bojan Bogdanovic should be the Milwaukee Bucks’ top trade target

Bojan Bogdanovic is one of the most highly coveted targets leading up to the NBA trade deadline, and the Milwaukee Bucks reportedly have some interest in him.

According to Action Network’s Matt Moore, the Bucks could look to pursue the veteran forward if the Detroit Pistons seriously entertain the idea of moving him. Per The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III (Subscription required), Detroit will not move Bogdanovic for anything less than an unprotected first round pick and a good young player. That is a somewhat steep asking price but one that the Bucks should legitimately consider meeting before the Feb. 9 deadline. At this point, Bogdanovic should not only be a trade target for Milwaukee, but he should be atop their wish list.

Why Bojan Bogdanovic should be the Milwaukee Bucks’ top trade target

It is no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled on offense this year. They have ranked in the bottom five in offensive rating for essentially the entire season, and it has hurt them mightily. Of course, Khris Middleton’s absence has played a big part in that, as the forward has appeared in just seven games due to injuries. Even when Middleton returns, there are still questions as to how he may look and produce. Given Milwaukee’s hit-or-miss play on offense, adding another weapon on that side of things certainly would not hurt, and Bogdanovic would fit the billing.

Bogdanovic is currently having a career year in Detroit by averaging 21.2 points and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 41.5 percent from 3-point land. Even at 33 years old, Bogdanovic has shown that he has plenty left in the tank, and the Bucks could use a scorer and shooter of his pedigree to keep the wheels turning on offense. Having Bogdanovic as the third or fourth scoring option would make the Bucks incredibly versatile offensively and would alleviate pressure off of others such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, and Khris Middleton. Bogdanovic’s sweet 3-point shooting would make him a seamless fit in the lineup and in Coach Mike Budenholzer’s system offensively.

Simply put, the Bucks need another guy who can get them a bucket, and Bogdanovic is just that.

The primary argument against the Bucks trading for Bogdanovic is his defense. The forward has never been a reputable defender, and that could be problematic in certain matchups. That is a valid argument, but the Bucks should be willing to sacrifice a little defense if it strengthens the offense, which it undoubtedly would in this case. Bringing in Bogdanovic would add a new element to this Milwaukee team that has never been seen due to the sheer number of options offensively.

The biggest roadblock in any Bogdanovic to Milwaukee trade is the forward’s hefty salary. The vet is on the books for $19.3 million this season, and that would take a hefty amount of salary for the Bucks to match. There are questions as to whether the Pistons would even be interested in what the Bucks would have to offer. Milwaukee does have a first round pick in 2029 to attach in a move, but Detroit could prefer something sooner. Other teams may be able to offer better packages for Bogdanovic, but the Bucks should be persistent about trying to get him. Despite the challenges in trying to bring Bogdanovic in, he could work wonders for this team and should be their top target.

Stay tuned to see if the Bucks’ interest in Bogdanovic materializes into anything.