Forward Chris Livingston was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks just two weeks ago. Now, after impressing across a four games of Summer League, he’s back in the fold on a one-year deal worth $2.3 million, fully guaranteed. It’s a great story for him, but it may spell the end of another youngster’s time on the roster.
Chris Livingston Won Himself New Contract in Summer League
The Bucks wrapped up the initial slate of Summer League action versus the Bulls on Wednesday night, leading at halftime before they let another one slip away. For his part, though, Livingston continued to shine as a scorer: 23 more points on 9-19 from the field. So far he’s averaged 20.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. He shot 49.2% overall and 38.1% on threes.
He was a bit carefree with the basketball these past two games, turning it over a combined 11 times, but on the whole, Livingston put on an excellent showing. News broke of his new contract several hours before the finale tipped off.
Livingston will enter his third year in Milwaukee after being drafted 58th overall in 2023. He has to show much at the NBA level, but the Bucks apparently saw enough in three summer games to give him another shot. With the projected 15-man roster already full before the signing, someone has to get the boot to make room.
Milwaukee Bucks May Soon Cut Ties with 3rd-Year Wing
Most likely, that someone is Andre Jackson Jr. Unless the team reneges on reported plans to bring back Thanasis Antetokounmpo, he’s the only player that makes any sense. Even before Livingston was signed, Jackson had only a tenuous hold on a potential roster spot.
He hasn’t wowed during Summer League. He showed flashes as a playmaker, but he also gave the ball away and committed unnecessary fouls. Both of those flaws have driven Bucks fans crazy during Jackson’s career. While he only notched five points and two assists, he did clean things up with a zero turnover game against the Bulls.
In a real games, though, Jackson has shown far more than Livingston, who hasn’t earned the chance for appreciable minutes. Although he often played sparingly after first quarters, Jackson started 43 games last season. He has appeared in 124 total across his two years in Milwaukee.
A strong defender, he’s still just 23 and fills one of this roster’s positional needs as a wing fit to guard small forwards. So far, however, he hasn’t outgrown his offensive limitations. The Bucks would like to see a bit more shot creation and efficient playmaking out of the former UConn Huskies guard. At least in Summer League, he hasn’t demonstrated the strides they hoped for.
Like Jackson, Livingston is listed at 6-foot-6 and is also two years younger. By re-signing him, the Bucks appear committed to Livington as wing depth on the end of the bench, the role Jackson would have filled. The current 15-man unit doesn’t have a place for both of them. Jackson’s fate – waived? traded? waived and re-signed to a two-way deal? – is something Bucks fans should keep an eye on in coming weeks.
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