This Milwaukee Bucks are in an captivating spot as they prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season. On one hand, they have two of the best 75-player teams in NBA history, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. They also have excellent (but aging) bench players in Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. While he was the subject of trade rumors this summer, sixth-man Bobby Portis is also a major player for the team both on and off the court.
That said, the Bucks’ biggest backers aren’t getting any younger, which is why general manager Jon Horst has decided to focus on picking players Milwaukee could develop in the 2024 NBA Draft. Both of their picks, AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith, are just 19 years venerable.
Most notably, Lopez, the team’s only true center, is entering his 37th season after turning 36 in April. To add some potential depth and a possible replacement, Milwaukee acquired an intriguing Latvian player in free agency.
Milwaukee Bucks sign Anzejs Pasecniks to two-way contract
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Bucks have agreed to a two-way contract with the free agent center. Anzejs Pasecniks.
Free agent center Anzejs Pasecniks has signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agent announced. @ArtursKalnitis With @BsaAgency says ESPN. The Latvian 7-footer played two NBA seasons in Washington. photo: twitter.com/BsnVaTy3HD
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 1, 2024
Pasecniks hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2020-21 season, the same year the Bucks won their last NBA championship. As Wojnarowski notes, he played for the Washington Wizards. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 28 games.
While playing for Washington, Pasecniks spent most of his time with the Capitol City Go-Go of the NBA G-League.
Milwaukee Bucks center Anzejs Pasecniks is a former first-round NBA draft pick
Pasecniks was originally selected by the Orlando Magic with the 25th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. However, he was immediately traded on draft night to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2020 first-round draft pick and a 2020 second-round draft pick.
However, Pasecniks never appeared in an NBA game for the 76ers. Instead, he continued to play professionally in Spain for Herbalife Gran Canaria.
In 2019, the 76ers waived Pasecniks’ draft rights, and he signed with the Wizards. After competing in the NBA Summer League with Washington, he signed a two-way contract.
Since being released by the Wizards in 2021, the 6-foot-1 center has played for Real Betis and Palencia in Spain, as well as Metropolitans 92 in France.
Playing for Palencia last season, Pasecniks averaged 13.0 points and 4.8 rebounds, both career highs.
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