This Milwaukee Bucks faced a number of challenges as their offseason began (too soon) with a loss to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. While Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are under contract for at least one more season, Bucks general manager Jon Horst didn’t have much financial flexibility to improve the roster.
Due to Milwaukee’s massive salary cap and their position in the NBA’s second tier of luxury tax, many assumed that key players like Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Bobby Portis could be traded. Of course, that didn’t happen.
Instead, Horst was able to convince several high-profile free agents to agree to veteran minimum contracts. Those signings helped fill the voids that were left by other players who left as free agents.
Milwaukee Bucks sign Delon Wright and Taurean Prince in free agency
One of the biggest holes in the Bucks’ roster has been at backup point guard. Lillard is, of course, the starter at that position. Cameron Payne began the 2023-24 NBA season as Milwaukee’s backup point guard, but was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers midseason for Patrick Beverley, who has assumed that role going forward.
Beverley was interested in returning to the Bucks for the 2024-25 NBA season, but he didn’t want to play on a veterans’ minimum contract. Instead, he signed a two-year, $4 million contract to play professional basketball in Israel.
TyTy Washington, who appeared in 11 games for the Bucks and spent most of his time with the Wisconsin Herd, was hoping to earn the job.
Instead, the Bucks signed Delon Wright in free agency to be their backup point guard. Washington, who was on a two-way contract, was recently released.
Former Milwaukee Bucks guard TyTy Washington signs with Phoenix Suns
On Friday morning, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Channel X (formerly Twitter) that Washington had reached a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns:
Free agent G TyTy Washington Jr. has signed a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Bradbury has signed with @LiftSportsMNGMT says ESPN. Washington — a 2022 first-round draft pick out of Kentucky — has played 42 NBA games with the Rockets and Bucks. photo: twitter.com/57XX4gvxct
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 2, 2024
As Woj notes, Washington was selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. He was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, but the very next day he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who quickly turned around and sent him to the Houston Rockets.
He appeared in 31 games for the Rockets in the 2022-23 NBA season, averaging 4.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
After the season, he was included in a massive five-team trade that sent Dillon Brooks to Houston. Sam Washington was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks, who four days later traded him and two other players to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Patty Mills.
The Hawks released him last August. Washington signed a two-way contract with the Bucks a few weeks later.
In 11 games with Milwaukee last season, Washington averaged 1.3 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. With the Herd, he averaged 21.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists while shooting 42.6 percent from three.
He will join former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer in Phoenix.
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