The Milwaukee Bucks have made a habit of picking up forgotten players on the cheap and turning them into a success. They are always hunting for more defensive-minded forwards, and former NBA player Isaac Bonga is an ideal target for them in that regard this offseason.
Isaac Bonga is ideal target for the Bucks
Bonga is still just 26 years old and has had a solid season for Partizan Belgrade, which has been a year marked by turmoil for the team. In the Adriatic League, he is averaging 11.2 points. 5.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists on shooting splits of .598/.459/.811.
Per BasketNews.com, Partizan turned down multiple NBA offers for Bonga, with the deadline for signing players from outside the league running until April 12. His teammate in Belgrade and former Buck Cam Payne has just returned to the league after a short stint in Europe, so Bonga may follow suit at some point.
The former Los Angeles Laker caught the eyes of many NBA teams at EuroBasket 2025, where he claimed gold with Germany and won the tournament's Best Defender award. Milwaukee is still in need of a two-way small forward, and Bonga fits that perfectly.
In EuroLeague, he is averaging 9.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. Versatile forwards that can play strong defense and shoot are so valuable in the NBA. Bonga fits that perfectly, and that is why so many NBA teams are still looking to bring him back to the league.
This will make it difficult for the Bucks to have a clear run at him, but pairing him alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo would be a great fit, with Bonga being able to take on the defensive responsibility of the elite wings in the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee handed out several player options this offseason, so that makes it tough to gauge who will be on the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season. Gary Trent Jr., Gary Harris, and Taurean Prince can all play small forward, and all have player options. Clearing the way for a guy like Bonga is something the Bucks would have to do, whether that is by trade or by hoping those players decline those options.
Ousmane Dieng has been a revelation of a signing in his handful of games with the Bucks. Re-signing Dieng and pairing him with Bonga as the new-look small forward group that still has room to grow is something the Bucks haven't had in a long time. Milwaukee has looked to more experienced wings in recent years, but that has led to their lack of athleticism being exploited. Bonga fixes that.
Isaac Bonga already has many NBA teams circling him, and the Bucks should be one of those. He has matured since leaving the NBA and is now demonstrating that he possesses the skills to thrive in the league, with a two-way wing being something the Bucks should still be seeking.