The Milwaukee Bucks are always hunting for more defensive-minded forwards, which is precisely why Isaac Bonga should be on their radar. After a stellar showing at EuroBasket, Bonga showed NBA clubs exactly why he deserves another shot in the league, but it won't come anytime soon. NBA insider Marc Stein (subscription required) reports that Bonga intends to fulfill his deal with Partizan Belgrade in Serbia for this year.
If teams want a shot at signing Bonga, they will have to wait until next summer. The Milwaukee Bucks should be among those lurking in the shadows until then. He's the type of low-risk signing that has the potential to beef up this roster in a big way.
Bonga would be a nice overseas reclamation project for the Bucks
In today's NBA, teams need versatile forwards who can play stout defense and shoot the long ball. Check and check. Bonga displayed both of those attributes throughout EuroBasket, taking home a prestigious award for being the best defender in the mix. He also shot a blistering 45.2 percent from three throughout the contest en route to winning it all with Germany. That sounds like an NBA player.
The defense might have been enough to get teams interested, but the outside shooting cemented it. Bonga shot just 30 percent from deep during his time in the NBA, and while it was a much smaller sample of games, the jumper looked much better at EuroBasket. If he can prove that level of shooting is the new norm, teams will only fight harder to sign him next summer.
It's not unreasonable to wonder how the Milwaukee Bucks' small forward rotation might look in a year. Taurean Prince will have a player option. Chris Livingston will be a free agent again. There's no telling whether or not Amir Coffey will be in town. This team might need to revamp the spot, and bringing in a former player with plenty to prove could be a great starting point.
For the time being, Bonga will honor his current contract. The next year will serve as an audition for the forward to show he belongs back in the NBA. Teams from this side of the world will certainly be watching him closely. If he continues to impress, it will only set him up for a larger payday when the free agent market opens in the summer of 2026.
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