The Bucks will be on the lookout this offseason for additional play-making and shooting and are expected to be a “strong suitor” for Kings restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Bogdanovic enjoyed arguably the best season of his three-year NBA career in 2019/20, averaging 15.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.4 APG on .440/.372/.741 shooting in 61 contests (29.0 MPG). He earned a promotion to the starting lineup in January, displacing Buddy Hield, and helped lead the Kings to a 16-12 record during his 28 games as a starter.
There’s an expectation that re-signing Bogdanovic will be a priority for the Kings. The team jettisoned Dewayne Dedmon‘s pricey multiyear contract at February’s trade deadline in order to create more future cap flexibility to accommodate a new deal for Bogdanovic. Sacramento also has the right of first refusal on the 28-year-old, which means the club can match any offer sheet he signs.
The Bucks, on the other hand, aren’t expected to have any cap room available this offseason, and the mid-level exception (worth between $9-10MM) won’t be nearly enough to sign Bogdanovic to an offer that the Kings wouldn’t match.
Still, if there’s strong mutual interest between the Bucks and Bogdanovic, it’s possible something can be worked out. Six restricted free agents were involved in sign-and-trade deals during the 2019 offseason. If Milwaukee is willing to offer a trade package that appeals to Sacramento, perhaps that could be an option, though the Bucks would become hard-capped at around $139MM in that scenario.
With the Bucks looking to do all they can to convince Giannis Antetokounmpo to commit to a long-term future in Milwaukee, I’d expect the front office to get creative as it pursues potential upgrades this fall. Going after Bogdanovic will likely be one of many options that general manager Jon Horst and his group consider.
Bucks are done.
You’ve been done for years.
Bucks could trade Bledsoe for a cheaper option to make some more room
There’s strong mutual interest between the Bucks and Bogdanovic, it’s possible something can be worked out.
There’s strong mutual interest between the 76ers and Hield, it’s possible something can be worked out.
Kings are in the win-now mode. Any deals have to make the Kings younger and better.
Those last two sentences contradict.
So this is the Bucks plan to keep Giannis in house? Bringing this stud in who averages 15 points a game? And as the article States they probably can’t even afford him because the Bucks have no cap room lol.. all they have is crappy trade assets Eric Bledsoe and…. well nobody. Bye-bye Giannis thanks for being here. We wish you well.
Watch the Lakers make a move for Giannis. They could trade some players like…, like.. well there’s nobody the Bucks would want. Danny Green, kcp, McGee, kuzma, plus all those first round draft picks they gave to New Orleans? Lakers don’t have much. And the same could be said about every other team out there. They don’t have much to give up without destroying their team.
Miami, nope. Clippers, nope. Houston oh, well maybe Harden? That could be doable but the Rockets are handcuffed for the future as far as building a championship team.
Not many teams can offer a legitimate return, plus make the money work, without destroying their core. Thoughts?
4 teams have traded almost all future picks for present championship run
Heat
Lakers
Clippers
Rockets
They will trade bench players for Giannis
Lakers trade KCP Green Kuzma for Giannis
And bucks laugh
Horst will keep him.
Wow someone is being a Debbie Downer. The Bucks have plenty of appealing trade assets via players (DiVicenzo, Hill, BroLo and even Bledsoe has value) and draft picks to bring in players.
I guess the real question is: do the Bucks feel adding Bogdanovic is worth being hard capped for the season?
I think it will depend on what other moves they are able to make to replenish their bench.
Bucks better not trade divicenzo
Raptors c’mon…
Possibly.
So the Bucks couldn’t do a Bledsoe, Sterling Brown, Llasoyvo and there first round pick for the guy maybe throw in Robin Lopez if he exercise his option? just asking
Can’t see Kings giving up Bogdanovic
Bucks taking a conservative approach because they think that tweaking the team will help translate reg season success into post season success. They should take Laker approach, only Giannis is necessary, everyone else is tradeable and gaps will be filled with various vets. That makes players like Beal potentially accessible. Of course, you have to assume Middleton is not a #2 star but a #3 who is expendable.
The Laker approach started in 2014 and they were done being contenders after age and bad trades. The Bucks are contenders now. Only a fool throws that away because someone else wants you to give them their assets.
It’s true, the vultures are circling.
These teams that underachieve never seem to grasp that. Even cavs two seasons ago traded the entire team except Bron and returned to the finals. Some teams have man crushes on guys whom aren’t reliable in the playoffs. Middlechild,PG,Russ,Harden… consistent let down after let down, yet teams seem to love them.
Kings made their choice (IMO, a wise one) in putting Bogdanovic in as the starter ahead of Hield. Bogdanovic is an RFA. Unless he can get a ridiculous offer sheet, I can’t imagine the Kings will not bring him back.
The Bucks have a long history of going after restricted free agents (Teague and others) and then that player’s team just matches the contract. Things might be different now (see the many recent sign and trade restricted free agents like Brogden) but this just sounds like the same old foolish off season plans as in the past.
Bucks should pursue Tyreke Evans whom has been putting in work and is ready for a return to the league. Then trade Bledsoe for an expiring contract.