Following two playoff exits in seasons in which the Bucks seemed favored to win the NBA Championship, it was clear changes needed to be made. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a free agent next season, and if the Bucks want him resign, they needed to show they are serious about contending. After a major trade for Jrue Holiday, another for Bogdan Bogdanovich creates a starting-five that will rival any in the league.
Milwaukee Bucks *potential* starting lineup next season;
Jrue Holiday
Bogdan Bogdanovic
Khris Middleton
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Brook LopezBucks are doing whatever it takes to retain Giannis. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gIpwRL9dz9
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) November 17, 2020
Bogdan Bogdanovich is entering his fourth season in the NBA. In 2019-2020, he averaged a career-best 15.1 point on shooting splits of 44/37/72. He played in 61 games, 28 of them starts.
Who Did the Bucks Give Up for Bogdan?
Breaking: Milwaukee is landing Sacramento’s Bogdan Bogdanovic in a sign-and-trade deal.
The Bucks are trading Donte Divincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and DJ Wilson in the deal to the Kings, sources tell @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/35Xf4h5fZ7
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 17, 2020
In exchange for the Serbian Sharpshooter, the Bucks send away Ersan Ilyasova and DJ Wilson. These are two players who saw very little time down the stretch. Ilyasova is due to make $7 million in 2020-2021, a salary the Bucks just did not want to pay. The Bucks are also sending valuable role player Donte DiVincenzo to Sacramento.
What’s Next for the Bucks?
Obviously, the primary goal for the Bucks, besides winning a title, is to have Giannis sign the supermax extension to stay in Milwaukee. In addition to that, the Bucks must now fill out their roster. They have traded five players and gotten two in return. In addition, Wes Matthews and Robin Lopez declined their player options.
The Bucks have said that they will spend into the luxury tax. Just how much they are willing to go over is not yet known. These two deals give the Bucks more room than many had thought they would have if they made any deals.
Updated Bucks cap projection assuming Bogdanovic gets something around $70m over four years and Giannis takes the supermax. Shade over $15m to fill out remainder of roster while staying under $139m hard cap. pic.twitter.com/0HeuLCXpkH
— Frank Madden (@fmaddenNBA) November 17, 2020
The Bucks currently have seven players on the roster and $15 million to spend. They can easily add a free agent using the mid-level exception, which will be about $5 million-$8 million once the dust settles and numbers on the Bogdan contract become more clear. Possible free agent targets include Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, and Avery Bradley.
Who knows what will happen, but if Jon Horst showed us anything last night, it’s that anything is possible in 2020.
For More Great Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherAdams14 and follow us @WiscoHeroics1for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
