Sacramento sending G Bogdanovic to Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks weren’t done with their pursuit of Kings guard Bogdan Bogdanovic even after acquiring former All-Star Jrue Holiday in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
Just when it looked like the Bucks might have gotten the guard they wanted to combine with MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All-Star Khris Middleton, general manager Jon Horst reportedly made another move late Monday night to acquire Bogdanovic from the Kings.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski the Kings were sending Bogdanovic and Justin James to the Bucks in a sign-andtrade deal for Donte DiVincenzo, Ersan Ilyasova and D.J. Wilson. The Kings created future cap flexibility as new general manager Monte McNair begins what might be a full rebuild in Sacramento.
Earlier Monday evening, sources told The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor the Bucks still intend to pursue a sign-and-trade deal for Bogdanovic. O’Connor added the Atlanta Hawks would also pursue Bogdanovic, but he noted the Bucks could sell Bogdanovic on the idea of competing for a championship.
A league source cautioned The Sacramento Bee that no deal had been finalized, but that appears to be a technicality. ESPN’s Bobby Marks noted the trade can’t be completed until the free-agent moratorium ends Saturday.
Bogdanovic was set to become an unrestricted free agent after three seasons in Sacramento. He told The Sacramento Bee he turned down a four-year, $51.4 million extension with the Kings prior to the 2019-20 season.
Bogdanovic’s camp signaled a willingness to play hardball in negotiations with the Kings after they signed Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes to lucrative new deals last offseason. Former general manager Vlade Divac would have likely been willing to match offers in the range of $15 million to $18 million, but it was unclear what price McNair would be willing to pay. If Bogdanovic didn’t like his options, he could have taken the Kings’ qualifying offer and left Sacramento as an unrestricted free agent next summer with no compensation for the Kings.
Bogdanovic averaged a careerhigh 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists last season in Sacramento. His departure seemingly clears the way for Buddy Hield to return to the starting lineup after coach Luke Walton moved him into a backup role behind Bogdanovic last season.
Justin James, a 6-7 guard entering his second NBA season, averaged 2.5 points in 36 games for the Kings last season.