The Milwaukee Bucks are coming off a disappointing end to their season, losing to the Miami Heat in a humiliating five games in only the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. Besides how it ended, one of the more disappointing parts of the season was that it all crumbled even despite a trade deadline move that looked like it was poised to move the needle in the acquisition of Jae Crowder.
As they look to make some changes in the offseason, there are a few players who have been rumored to be trade candidates that the Bucks could likely consider again.
Any trades for win-now pieces would likely include any combination of Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, and the Bucks’ second-round picks. More enterprising front offices might even go the extra mile and ask for guys like Bobby Portis and MarJon Beauchamp, or even the Bucks’ first-round pick in 2029. The Bucks would be wise to consider these trades, even with the sentimental value these pieces undoubtedly hold.
After the postseason they just had, the Bucks will have to retool this offseason. The problem is they don’t have many options to do so. Under the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, teams that cross the new “second apron” are severely limited in their ability to add talent in free agency. The Bucks cannot use the taxpayer mid-level exception, which is one of the most valuable tools for teams that are over the salary cap. Teams that cross the second apron cannot receive players back in a sign-and-trade. This means that they cannot use this valuable trade exception to acquire players who are already under contract with other teams.
This means that they are essentially limited to offering veteran-minimum contracts and trading key pieces, both of which are not very effective ways to acquire impact players while retaining their first-seeded core.
Here are a few players the Bucks have already been linked to and that they could consider again.
Milwaukee Bucks target No. 1 – Bojan Bogdanovic
One player who has been linked to the Bucks is Bojan Bogdanovic of the Detroit Pistons. According to Yahoo Sports’ insider Jake Fischer, the Bucks were once upon a time open to the prospect of flipping their 2029 first-round pick for the services of Bojan Bogdanovic.
Bogdanovic is a 6-foot-8 forward who is known for his shooting ability. It’s clear his scoring is aging well this far into his career: he averaged 21.6 points per game last season while shooting 41.1 percent from 3-point range. There’s no doubt he would give the Bucks another scoring option on the wing while giving them good size.
There’s no questioning his fit with the Bucks. Bogdanovic is that special type of player who can immediately contribute to any situation you put him in. He is a proven scorer who can shoot the three-ball at a high percentage. He is also a good ball-handler and passer, which would allow him to create his own shot or find open teammates. Bogdanovic is a veteran player who has won in the playoffs, which would be a valuable asset for the Bucks.
His track record as an offensive player speaks for itself. Bogdanovic is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter and was one of the top scorers on the league-leading Utah Jazz teams a few years back. His floor spacing would be a valuable asset for the Bucks, whose shooting has historically dried up in the playoffs for consecutive years now.
As if that wasn’t enough merit on its own, Bogdanovic is also a relatively capable ball-handler and passer, which would allow him to create his own shot or find open teammates. This would be a valuable asset for the Bucks, who often struggle to create open shots for their teammates.
But more than anything else, Bogdanovic is a 10-year NBA veteran who has won in the playoffs. He would bring a wealth of experience to the Bucks, which would be a valuable asset in the playoffs.