The Milwaukee Bucks were not as busy at the NBA trade deadline as many fans wanted or expected them to be. While many of the rumors and speculation surrounding the team involved ten-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo, they reportedly were never even close to trading away their franchise cornerstone, much to the dismay of fans of other NBA teams.
And while many Bucks fans wanted to see players like Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis traded, both of them remain on the team.
However, the Bucks did trade away two players, Amir Coffey and Cole Anthony, in a three team trade that brought them Ousmane Dieng and former Wisconsin Badgers star Nigel Hayes-Davis.
The Milwaukee Bucks have waived Nigel Hayes-Davis
Nov 29, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Nigel Hayes-Davis (21) against the Denver Nuggets in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Initially, many Bucks fans native to Wisconsin were excited to have Hayes-Davis on the Bucks. As mentioned, he is a former Badgers star who played on the last Wisconsin team to make it all the way to the Final Four and appear in the National Championship Game.
However, his homecoming was short lived, as the Bucks announced last night that they had waived him.
Turns out Nigel Hayes-Davis won’t be coming back to Wisconsin. He was included in the trade but then the Bucks waived him. pic.twitter.com/2iBgHtm4at
— Zach Heilprin (@ZachHeilprin) February 6, 2026
Hayes-Davis is averaging 1.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 27 appearances with the Phoenix Suns this year. Prior to signing with the Suns this off-season, he spent the last seven years playing professional basketball overseas.
But while waiving Hayes-Davis may have been a surprise, it does leave Milwaukee with an open roster spot.
Currently, they have been giving Pete Nance a great deal of playing time, but he is also on a two-way contract. In order to keep him around and from signing with other NBA teams, the Bucks may be looking to sign him to a standard league contract.
Nance is averaging 4.9 points and 2.1 rebounds per game this season. However, with a bigger role and more playing time in the Bucks’ last two games (both wins), he is averaging 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists.
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