The Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans agreed to a trade on Monday centering around point guard Jrue Holiday. The same day, Milwaukee came to terms with the Sacramento Kings on a deal that would land them sharpshooting forward Bogdan Bogdanovic.
Although the details on both transactions are not yet official, the general framework is known at this point.
In return for Holiday, the Bucks are sending New Orleans a package that features Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and three first-rounders (a 2020 first from Indiana and unprotected firsts in 2025 and 2027). The deal also includes a pair of first-round pick swaps (in 2024 and 2026).
Meanwhile, in return for a package of Bogdanovic and Justin James, Milwaukee is sending Sacramento Donte DiVincenzo, D.J. Wilson and Ersan Ilyasova.
When it’s all said and done, the Bucks will have a roster consisting of: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Holiday, James, Bogdanovic, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
The perks of being a Laker. https://t.co/yt6hWFrxXi
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 17, 2020
That is seven players to work with, and a lot of spots that need to be taken up by warm bodies. Generally roster spots are pretty easy to fill up if you have money or draft picks, but the Bucks have neither at their disposal. For the most part, the team will need to fill their remaining holes with veterans.
Normally, having a tight seven-man rotation isn’t a big deal for superstar-laden teams. The big name players are utilized heavily and the end-of-the-bench guys don’t get many minutes.
But Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer is built a little differently.
Paige Spiranac kept it very real. https://t.co/I4ZnqikeDM
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 17, 2020
Part of the reason why he has dealt with a fair share of playoff disappointment is because he absolutely refuses to tighten his rotation in the playoffs, when absolutely everyone else does it.
Now – his hand on the matter may be forced. Milwaukee is unlikely to fill out the remainder of their roster spots with particularly talented players, so there is a very good chance that Coach Budenholzer will simply be forced to stick to his top six or seven regardless of what he actually wants to do.
One way or another, this much is clear: the Bucks are going all in. They are surrounding their superstar with as much talent as they can, by any means necessary, and they’re risking their future to do it.
Will the bet pay off? Time will tell.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
