The Milwaukee Bucks have been pretty quiet lately, and some fans believe it could be because the front office is looking at trade targets across the association.
That’s just speculation, but it would be surprising if the team did not make a trade of some kind in the coming months. This roster could use a few tweaks, primarily in the backcourt, where they are in need of a backup point guard behind All-Star guard Jrue Holiday. Sticking with the backcourt, the Bleacher Report NBA staff recently put together a trade package for every team in the league, and their deal for Milwaukee would see them add another veteran two-guard in Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Grade The Trade: Bucks add familiar target in this trade with the Hawks
Trying to land Bogdan Bogdanovic is nothing new for the Bucks. Of course, fans remember when the team tried trading for him in 2020 via a sign-and-trade. A deal seemed all but done, but it all fell through at the last minute. There has been plenty of speculation involving why exactly things never came to fruition back then, but the true clear-cut answer may never quite come to the light. Nearly three years later, Bleacher Report thinks the Bucks should reignite their previous interest. In this particular framework, the Bucks would acquire Bogdanovic in exchange for a pair of their key wings, Grayson Allen and Pat Connaughton, as well as a 2029 first rounder.
It’s an interesting suggestion, to say the least, so let’s break it down and give it a letter grade.
Pros of this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks
While there are certainly some issues with the trade package itself, the idea of adding Bogdanovic could be compelling to the Milwaukee Bucks for two major reasons: shot creation and friendship.
Over the past several years, the Bucks have lacked reliable shot creators outside of their Big 3, and it has hurt them tremendously, especially in the NBA Playoffs. The Bucks need a player who is able to create their own shots to take the pressure off of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday from constantly having to do so. Bogdanovic, who has averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 38.7 percent from three for his career, fits the mold and would be a seamless fit in Milwaukee alongside those three.
Speaking of the Big 3, Bogdanovic does have a relationship with Giannis. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, who was with Bleacher Report at the time, Antetokounmpo was in contact with the wing throughout the 2020 off-season and expressed a desire to join forces. Fischer added that Giannis admired Bogdanovic’s toughness and swagger and viewed him as “someone you could go to war with in the postseason.” It certainly wouldn’t hurt to add a player that Giannis is fond of, especially if that player can help the team. On top of that, keeping Antetokounmpo happy could go a long way with a possible extension offering on the horizon.
Cons of this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks
Despite those previously mentioned positives, this is not a perfect trade by any means, especially regarding the actual package the Milwaukee Bucks would be sending out.
This is a lot to give up for Bogdan Bogdanovic. While Milwaukee certainly should not make Allen or Connaughton untouchable in trades, this is not the deal to send them out. Bogdanovic is the better player when comparing him to Allen or Connaughton, but is he better than both of them combined in a two-for-one deal? The answer is no. Despite their faults, Allen and Connaughton are still good players who would be better for the team.
Bogdanovic’s injury history is also a lingering worry, as the two-guard has not played 70 games in a season for over four years now. Injuries have hindered Milwaukee’s success during their previous two playoff runs, and they’d be taking quite a gamble by bringing in Bogdanovic, who has battled a nagging knee issue in recent memory. Sending out such a haul for a player who has not played 70 games since Mike Budenholzer’s first year as the Bucks coach does not sound overly promising.
On top of sending out two of their better wings, the Bucks would also have to deal their lone first rounder at the moment, which they cannot utilize until 2029. Some would debate whether or not they would do this deal even without the first round pick attached. To trade away the two wings and one of the team’s most valuable assets would be a very questionable move by Milwaukee’s front office. The Milwaukee Bucks need to be smart with that draft pick right now.
The verdict on this trade between the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks
Grayson Allen, Pat Connaughton, AND a first round pick is certainly a lot to send out for someone like Bogdanovic. He’s a stellar player, but not enough of an upgrade to justify sending out this haul, especially when looking at his looming injury history. It would be a major gamble for the team, and they cannot afford to do such a thing right now. The Milwaukee Bucks would be wise to offer this package on the trade market, but not in this particular framework with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Bucks need a clear-cut upgrade if they are sending out a package like this one. The combined salaries of Connaughton and Allen would net them a nice return financially, as they could acquire a player in the $20 million range. That first round pick has the potential to be incredibly desirable on the market, as no one has a clue what the Bucks will look like in six years. If they’re sending out an incredibly useful draft pick, they need a needle-tipper. Bogdanovic, while being a very good player, is not worth gutting the team’s strongest avenue to improve the roster. On top of that, the Bucks do not need another wing; they need a backup point guard or combo guard.
The Bucks likely wouldn’t do this trade, regardless, as they know how valuable that first round pick is to them. Per Jake Fischer, the team contemplated utilizing that first rounder on another player named Bogdanovic, Bojan Bogdanovic, at the trade deadline this past season. Trading the pick for him would have made more sense, as he would have given them everything on offense that the other Bogdanovic would, except bigger. Bojan Bogdanovic has averaged 18.8 points while hitting 40.4 percent of his 3-pointers on 6.2 attempts per game over the last five seasons. If they would not trade it for him, they likely wouldn’t for Bogdan.
The Bucks must be wise when it comes to managing their assets, so they should look elsewhere.
BTBP Grade: D+
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis and trade breakdowns this NBA off-season.