From Bleacher Report’s Joseph Zucker :
The Milwaukee Bucks apparently aren’t done upgrading their roster.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported Milwaukee “will pursue a sign-and-trade” for Bogdan Bogdanovic, who’s a restricted free agent of the Sacramento Kings.
That followed a report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Bucks are finalizing a deal to get Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans.
Bogdanovic averaged 15.1 points while shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range. The 28-year-old would be a great fit in an offense that looks to spread the floor and open the paint for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Holiday trade will leave the cupboard somewhat bare in terms of the assets Milwaukee could send Sacramento’s way. Per Wojnarowski, the Pelicans are getting Eric Bledsoe, George Hill, three first-round picks and multiple pick swaps.
The Ringer’s Dan Devine weighed in with what the Bucks might offer:
Whether going all-in to this extent works is largely predicated on Antetokounmpo’s decision about his next contract. According to the New York Times‘ Marc Stein, some around the league believe the two-time MVP is prepared to sign a five-year supermax extension.
If that happens, giving up three first-round picks and two picks swaps for Holiday isn’t a massive overpay since those picks would be toward the back half of the first round. Likewise, the costs of a sign-and-trade for Bogdanovic—in terms of trade capital and salary—are easier to absorb.
However, the situation would look pretty dire for the Bucks were Antetokounmpo to leave. They’d still have a roster led by Holiday, Bogdanovic and Khris Middleton, but that squad isn’t contending for a championship. And it would be years before the front office could trigger a true rebuild because it wouldn’t have control of its picks for a long time.
Perhaps this aggressive approach speaks to a level of confidence from general manager Jon Horst about where Antetokounmpo is leaning.
