The Milwaukee Bucks have waived guards Jamaree Bouyea and Cormac Ryan, the team announced Monday afternoon. Ryan’s dismissal was a forgone conclusion. Probably, the Bucks invited him to training camp as a reward for a solid Summer League showing and an opportunity to audition for an NBA roster spot elsewhere.
Bouyea, on the other hand, had been with the team on a two-way contract going back to last season. He played well in two Summer League games (16.5 PPG, 4.0 APG) before a leg injury sidelined him the rest of the way. It’s somewhat surprising to see him waived, but it also creates a two-way slot that, perhaps, the Bucks already have in mind for someone else.
Bucks gives themselves options with good-bye to Bouyea
During the regular season, NBA teams can carry three players on two-way contracts. With Bouyea gone, the Bucks have two spots filled by Pete Nance and Mark Sears, but the third one is now available. Cutting Bouyea begs the question of what the Bucks plan to do with it.
Mar 27, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) celebrates after making a three pointer during the second half against the Brigham Young Cougars during an East Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
They could, for example, waive Andre Jackson Jr. and re-sign him to a two-way deal. Since he has less than four years of NBA service time, he is still eligible for a two-way contract. In theory, they could also do that with Tyler Smith and Chris Livingston, but they are owed more guaranteed money than the $800,000 owed to Jackson, making such a move less likely.
In addition to Summer League play, Bouyea appeared in all three preseason games but logged just three minutes in Sunday’s contest against the Bulls. Overall, he shot 3-12 for six points and four assists. Last season, he appeared in five games for the Bucks although the bulk of his NBA playing time came in the regular-season finale against the Pistons, an overtime affair in which Bouyea played 47 minutes.
He also played four games for the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G-League affiliate, averaging 17.8 points and 6.3 assists.
Apr 13, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Jamaree Bouyea (15) drives to the basket against Detroit Pistons forward Lindy Waters III (43) in the first half at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Today’s roster update marks an abrupt end to Bouyea’s time with the Bucks, but it is possible they simply want to prioritize younger players. Sears, for example, is 23 and all three point guards on the 15-man roster – Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, and Ryan Rollins – are younger than Bouyea.
26 years old, he has spent parts of three seasons in the NBA, mostly in the G League, after joining the Heat in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of the San Francisco Dons’ basketball program.
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