In an offseason that was primarily directed toward finding capable reinforcements in an effort to contend for next season’s NBA title, the Milwaukee Bucks’ pickup of Croatian big man Dragan Bender stands as something of an exception.
After hitting the open market this summer following the end of his frustrating three-year stint with the Phoenix Suns, the fourth overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft was, by all accounts, ready for a fresh start elsewhere in the NBA.
That pursuit didn’t come easy initially as Bender had originally committed to a deal with reigning EuroLeague champs, CSKA Moscow, before the Bucks swooped in to bring in the 21-year-old to fill out their 15-man roster late last month.