Pete Nance is officially back with the Milwaukee Bucks, signing another two-way contract after a few incredibly nervous days where it truly felt like he might be gone for good. This is a massive relief for the organization and fans alike, especially considering what went down just to get him back in the green and cream for his third season.
That Nervous Wait? Totally Worth It.
You probably felt that pit in your stomach, right? The Bucks had waived Nance from his non-guaranteed deal back in July, trying to trim their roster down to 16. Then, just yesterday, they waived Kevin Porter Jr., bringing the official count to 15. The whole time, the chatter was about Nance. Why? Because by letting him go, even from a non-guaranteed contract, Milwaukee was reportedly risking another team swooping in and offering him a standard deal. That would have been brutal for the Bucks, who couldn’t realistically match without taking a serious financial hit.
Remember, the team was already on the hook for one standard contract that they had to eat, which ended up being KPJ’s $5.39 million deal. Eating two? No way, not with how shrewd Horst and his team are. Cutting Nance was the “easy way out” on paper because his initial contract wasn’t guaranteed, but man, it carried real risk. Nance’s ability has clearly broken into the mainstream, and everyone knows he is more than just a two-way guy now. The fact that the Bucks pulled this off, getting him to sign another two-way deal and utilizing his final year of eligibility for it, shows some serious negotiating chops.
Nance Isn’t Your Average Two-Way Guy, And The Bucks Know It.
Don’t get it twisted: Pete Nance is on a two-way deal, but Coach Jenkins isn’t going to treat him like one. This guy has clearly earned his stripes. I’d be shocked if he spends much time, if any, with the Wisconsin Herd this year. Expect to see Bogoljub Markovic and Nate Ament logging more minutes in Oshkosh. Nance is a full-fledged part of the rotation, and the team proved it by doing whatever it took to keep him.
Think about it: Horst and his crew were smart enough to convince Nance to allow them to leverage his remaining year of two-way eligibility. That saves them from having to commit to a standard deal right now, which is a massive win financially. But you know there were serious conversations behind the scenes. They had to talk about how this two-way contract absolutely does not reflect the big plans Horst and his team have for him, both this season and down the road. This dude is coming off his best season as a pro, averaging 5.4 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.0 APG, while hitting a super efficient 42.0% from deep in a career-high 15.7 minutes per contest. Those numbers are no joke.
With Nance locked in, all three of Milwaukee’s two-way contracts are now filled. It’s clear the Bucks see him as a long-term piece, and this strategic, albeit risky, move just bought them a little more time and financial flexibility. It’s going to be exciting to see how Nance continues to develop and truly break out this season, proving he’s far beyond a two-way player on the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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